Singapore’s largest healthcare complex planned for Novena area

SINGAPORE — A masterplan for Singapore’s single largest healthcare complex in the Novena area, incorporating Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), was unveiled today (Aug 30).

Health City Novena, which has a targeted to be completed by 2030, is a 17-hectare modern integrated healthcare complex physically linking TTSH, the medical school and all public and volunteer healthcare facilities.

The built-up area for all healthcare facilities and services in the vicinity is projected to jump from 250,000 square metres to 600,000 square metres with the completion of the complex.

The Health City Novena masterplan also includes a proposed development called the Integrated Intermediate Care Hub (IICH) comprising Dover Park Hospice and a proposed second community hospital. It will be adjacent to and connected to TTSH and Ren Ci Hospital to allow seamless coordination of care and patient transfers.

The first phase of construction is targeted for completion between 2018 and 2020.

The plan was unveiled by the Ministry of Health, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and TTSH this morning.

From acute to intermediate and long-term care, Health City Novena will offer the full range of holistic care experiences for the residents in the central region of Singapore. It will also extend beyond healthcare to encompass a complete and holistic eco-system that includes health services, research and education, commercial, leisure and public spaces.

Health City Novena will also see more resources channelled to ambulatory and intermediate care, including rehabilitation, sub-acute care and palliative care, to facilitate the transition of patients back to the community and health.

Another development is the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, which is a hospital with isolation wards, intensive care units and support facilities including laboratories. The centre will also serve as a research and training ground to boost expertise in the field.

Total bed capacity for Health City is expected to increase by 12 per cent for acute care, and 60 per cent for intermediate step-down care. This would mean that for every 10 acute beds, the number of step-down beds in Health City will increase from four to six. This facilitates patients’ transition back to the community.