Chapter Five: Looking Ahead
Part Three
Future Ready
As announced by MOH in 2020, new buildings will rise onsite, allowing for the addition of 700 new beds to complement its existing 300.
Taking into account the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the new AH will be designed to be a “true pandemic-ready hospital,” said Dr. Phua. This means developing clinical spaces where the infected and uninfected can be effectively segregated, among other efforts. A nursing home to cater to Queenstown’s ageing population is also in the pipeline.
A new multi-stakeholder collaboration between HDB, National University Health System (NUHS), and National University of Singapore (NUS) called Health District @ Queenstown has also been established, where healthcare and community partners pilot new strategies to build an environment that promotes healthy lifestyles and active, healthy ageing.
More work awaits AH’s core team as the campus is slated for a major redevelopment exercise due to be completed in 2030. An important milestone for this 86-year-old campus, the hospital groundbreaking and redevelopment exercise is set to produce Singapore’s first integrated general hospital.
The new expanded AH will play a key role as a regional hospital for the southwestern region of Singapore, providing innovative, one-stop medical services with the aim of delivering better care to patients.
The nursing team, helmed by Chief Nurse Margaret Lee (seated at front row on left of the couch on the left).
In addition to the upcoming nursing home, AH’s new integrated campus will cater for healthcare needs with acute care, intermediate care to long-term care, and ancillary services. These medical and healthcare services will supplement the new initiative and be seamlessly incorporated into the care model for residents.
“AH Nursing is also championing greater roles in co-partnering with caregivers,” said chief nurse Ms. Margaret Lee, who has a Master’s in Health Science. She currently pilots a project to involve caregivers in their care recipient’s hospital care. Each caregiver is treated as a valuable contributor and key participant in the patient’s recovery care journey. She adds: “The hospital stay is transient and prepares the patient to return to his home setting. This means allowing a caregiver to stay overnight, as some patients do better when they have someone familiar by their side.”
Dr. Phua also wants AH to be tech forward and to harness technology comprehensively. In July 2020, a Virtual Care Centre was launched to oversee the care of discharged patients as a response to the high influx of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The existence of this care centre has been instrumental in freeing up bed space when COVID-19 cases peak, helping stabilise patients at home, and averting unnecessary admissions. More than 35 percent of readmissions were avoided due to the team’s efforts. The next step is to make this Virtual Care Centre a 24/7 operation.
Dr. Phua said he envisions the modern additions to the existing campus and the site’s original, stripped neoclassical appearance to be synergistic. AH’s redevelopment will take place in phases under the Alexandra Campus Master Plan, with the first phase targeted to be ready around 2030.
Ms. Grace Chiang, now AH’s chief campus planning officer, has been charged with planning the new campus together with her team. According to Ms. Chiang, a lot of nitty-gritty work awaits, such as the generation of spatial models to account for the hundreds of new beds.
These developments will be executed even while the current hospital is operational.
Both the old and new must be able to be in conversation looks-and style-wise,” Dr. Phua said. The goal, according to Dr. Phua, is to save as much of it as possible, since AH is one of the area’s defining landmarks.
“We’re trying to have the best of both worlds by preserving and enhancing the site’s heritage as far as possible while serving the country’s needs with the upcoming additions and improvements.”
The hospital’s boundary will also be adjusted to run closer to Queensway after the first phase of AH’s redevelopment is completed. Dr. Phua said he is looking forward to seeing AH better integrated with the rest of the neighbourhood.
“AH will eventually have multiple access points, very much like the Hort Park and Botanic Gardens—green havens which are well-integrated with their diverse surroundings. The new Queensway will be across the road from us. On our left will be the Rail Corridor. We will also be surrounded by HDB estates.”
It was announced in 2021 that close to 5,000 new BTO flats will be built at Queen’s Crescent. The neighbouring Rail Corridor and multiple new access points will improve AH’s access to these upcoming residential units and the pre-existing estates at Queensway and Queen’s Crescent. The access points will be inclusively designed and universally accessible, with pedestrian-friendly paths to encourage walkability and cycling networks to connect AH with the community.
To pay homage to its past, a museum will be established. As Dr. Phua aptly describes: “This way we can pay tribute to our forefathers and the good work done by the healthcare workers of the BMH and AH. We’ve been collecting artefacts from staff, past and present, to remember AH’s history in a concrete, tangible way. The new campus will blend technology and the human touch, and at the same time, create bridges between health and social care. It connects with the community while honouring our heritage.”
Telepresence robot Temi being trialed at a home visit session in the Queenstown district. With such devices being deployed, care can be brought remotely to patients - a useful tool during times of isolation and quarantine.
Alexandra Hospital CEO Jason Phua, standing in front of the porch at the main lobby of the hospital.
Alexandra Hospital will be a resource to all and facilitate collaboration between acute hospitals, specialist clinics, primary care, and community partners, catalysing the integration of health and social care beyond the confines of the hospital.
By creating community health nodes and satellite hubs, and supporting Singapore’s primary healthcare system as an essential healthcare provider, AH is poised and ready for their mission to deliver care straight to the community and the homes of Singaporeans.
“We look forward to building a new hospital that honours AH’s past as the BMH, which received accolades and served the region with its modern capabilities,” said Dr. Phua. “Our dream is for whatever we’ve put into practice and learned on the ground to be shared in Singapore and beyond in honour of our past.”
Mr. Jeffrey Chun, the present-day chief operating officer of Alexandra Hospital, is also committed to AH’s future as good stewards of the environment. According to Mr. Chun, one of AH’s key sustainability measures is the reduction of food waste.
“Our goal is to reduce total waste generated; by 10 percent this year, 25 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. AH is working on processing clean food waste produced mainly from the preparation of fruits, bread, and vegetables. We are also preparing for a ‘farm-to-bedside’ vision where such waste is turned into natural fertilisers for the growing of herbs and spices like chilli, spinach, and pandan, which will be part of the inpatient menu. By 2030, we are also all set to meet BCA’s Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification, in tandem with our ongoing Go Green efforts to show how healthcare and environmental sustainability can and must go hand in hand.”
In addition, Alexandra Hospital’s psychiatric offerings will be further expanded, as described in a speech made during the MOH Committee of Supply Debate on 9 March 2022 by Dr. Janil Puthucheary, the senior minister of state for health.
“The National University Health System (NUHS) will be setting up psychiatric services at the redeveloped Alexandra Hospital, in addition to the General Hospital services. This includes inpatient beds for acute and sub-acute psychiatric care and rehabilitation, as well as services such as Medical Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Psychogeriatrics,” he said.
“The new unit at Alexandra Hospital and the provision of new services in other centres will increase the outreach of mental health care and improve the care of patients and the support to their families.”
AH will also strengthen its links with the community by bridging the divide between health and social care to enable easier access to care.
A strong focus will be placed on medical services like Integrated Care, Geriatric Medicine, Supportive and Palliative Care Medicine, Rehabilitative Medicine, Psychological Medicine, and Ambulatory Surgery. Centres for research and excellence are also in the works.
These new programmes and infrastructure support the hospital’s mission to provide educational facilities with greater connectivity and accessibility.
Dr. Phua said he envisions the modern additions to the existing campus and the site’s original, stripped neoclassical appearance to be synergistic.
AH’s redevelopment will take place in phases under the Alexandra Campus Master Plan, with the first phase targeted to be ready around 2030. Ms. Grace Chiang, now AH’s chief campus planning officer, has been charged with planning the new campus together with her team.
According to Ms. Chiang, a lot of nitty-gritty work awaits, such as the generation of spatial models to account for the hundreds of new beds. These developments will be executed even while the current hospital is operational.
“Both the old and new must be able to be in conversation looks- and style-wise,” Dr. Phua said. The goal, according to Dr. Phua, is to save as much of it as possible, since AH is one of the area’s defining landmarks. “We’re trying to have the best of both worlds by preserving and enhancing the site’s heritage as far as possible while serving the country’s needs with the upcoming additions and improvements.”
The hospital’s boundary will also be adjusted to run closer to Queensway after the first phase of AH’s redevelopment is completed. Dr. Phua said he is looking forward to seeing AH better integrated with the rest of the neighbourhood.
“AH will eventually have multiple access points, very much like the Hort Park and Botanic Gardens—green havens which are well-integrated with their diverse surroundings. The new Queensway will be across the road from us. On our left will be the Rail Corridor. We will also be surrounded by HDB estates.”
It was announced in 2021 that close to 5,000 new BTO flats will be built at Queen’s Crescent. The neighbouring Rail Corridor and multiple new access points will improve AH’s access to these upcoming residential units and the pre-existing estates at Queensway and Queen’s Crescent. The access points will be inclusively designed and universally accessible, with pedestrian-friendly paths to encourage walkability and cycling networks to connect AH with the community.
To pay homage to its past, a museum will be established. As Dr. Phua aptly describes: “This way we can pay tribute to our forefathers and the good work done by the healthcare workers of the BMH and AH. We’ve been collecting artefacts from staff, past and present, to remember AH’s history in a concrete, tangible way. The new campus will blend technology and the human touch, and at the same time, create bridges between health and social care. It connects with the community while honouring our heritage.”
Alexandra Hospital will be a resource to all and facilitate collaboration between acute hospitals, specialist clinics, primary care, and community partners, catalysing the integration of health and social care beyond the confines of the hospital. By creating community health nodes and satellite hubs, and supporting Singapore’s primary healthcare system as an essential healthcare provider, AH is poised and ready for their mission to deliver care straight to the community and the homes of Singaporeans.
“We look forward to building a new hospital that honours AH’s past as the BMH, which received accolades and served the region with its modern capabilities,” said Dr. Phua. “Our dream is for whatever we’ve put into practice and learned on the ground to be shared in Singapore and beyond in honour of our past.”