New Hospital Eases Strain, Sets Future Standards

Woodlands Health Campus Reduces Wait Times, Enhances Care

Singapore’s northern region is experiencing a tangible improvement in healthcare accessibility following the opening of the Woodlands Health (WH) campus. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted that the new facility has significantly alleviated pressure on the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), leading to shorter waiting times for patients.

Relief for Overburdened Services

For years, KTPH in Yishun bore the brunt of serving a vast population in northern Singapore as the sole public hospital in the area since its 2010 inauguration. Minister Ong noted the previous strain, stating, “(KTPH’s) accident and emergency is so crowded. Waiting times are long… With the opening of Woodlands Health, the situation has really calmed down.”

Data from the Ministry of Health confirms this trend, showing a decrease in bed occupancy rates at KTPH since WH began operations in May 2024. While KTPH frequently saw occupancy at 100 per cent in 2024, recent data from July indicates that the campus has only surpassed 80 per cent occupancy once in 2025.

Setting a New Benchmark for Healthcare

The 7.7-hectare Woodlands Health campus, Singapore’s ninth public general hospital, is being hailed as a critical piece of national health infrastructure. Minister Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, described the care provided at WH as prompt and “immaculate.”

He further elaborated on its role in the nation’s evolving healthcare landscape, explaining that WH serves as a vital link for future developments, including the upcoming redevelopment of Alexandra Hospital and the planned hospitals in Tengah and Bedok. “Woodlands, in many ways, set the standards for hospitals of the future,” he added, emphasizing the need for efficiency and standardization in building new facilities.

Operationalizing Capacity and Specialized Care

Woodlands Health commenced operations with its medical centre in December 2023, followed by acute and emergency services in May 2024. The campus boasts a total capacity of 1,000 beds, with an additional 400 beds managed by Ren Ci, which operates a nursing home on-site. Currently, over 600 of the 1,000 beds are in use as the hospital continues to scale up its services.

Further enhancing its specialized services, the hospital opened a new Wound and Vascular Centre on August 2nd. This new clinic aims to expedite treatment for patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers. An upcoming colorectal assessment centre is also planned for later this year.

Combating Diabetic Complications

The establishment of the Wound and Vascular Centre follows encouraging outcomes from a program designed to prevent limb loss due to diabetes. According to WH, approximately 30 percent of nearly 400 diabetic patients with foot ulcers were at risk of amputation within a year before intervention.

Dr. Nicholas Chew, chairman of WH’s medical board, highlighted the hospital’s proactive approach. “We will continue to look after our patients with diabetic feet, but then we will extend to venous legs, injury, pressure, injuries, surgical sites, infections and other sorts of acute wounds. And then this would help us be able to address the population’s needs much better,” he stated. The hospital’s Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Programme has already successfully reduced amputation risk from 30 percent to under 3 percent.

The new clinic integrates vascular care with wound management, addressing a critical need for diabetic patients. The importance of early intervention is underscored by patient experiences like that of 55-year-old Zulkifli Haron. A long-time diabetic, he faced amputation of three toes and part of a heel tendon in 2024 due to unaddressed complications. “Last time, when you say you’ve got diabetes, (people would say) it’s nothing, just diabetes. Now I would tell people with diabetes, you need to be careful,” he advised, now retired due to his condition.

The improved accessibility of WH compared to KTPH was a significant factor for Mr. Zulkifli during his treatment. His experience highlights the direct impact of new healthcare infrastructure on patient convenience and the importance of preventative care in managing chronic diseases like diabetes.