SingHealth’s appointment-based system meant to help regular patients
We thank Mr Ian De Cotta for his feedback (“SingHealth should not end priority for elderly patients”; Dec 16, online).
We have since spoken to him to reassure him that his father and all our elderly patients will continue to be attended to in a timely manner.
Our current appointment-based system is designed to better serve patients who are visiting the polyclinic for regular follow-ups for their chronic conditions.
These patients can now, at their own time and convenience, make an appointment in advance through any of our booking platforms, such as our call centre, website and the SingHealth Health Buddy mobile application, or at the clinic’s appointment counters.
It minimises patients’ waiting time in the clinic, as they need only arrive 15 minutes before the appointment time. Those who require urgent attention will still be given priority and seen immediately, regardless of the appointment system.
To provide ample time for our patients on regular follow-up to make arrangements and plan future appointments, our polyclinic staff have been giving out flyers informing patients and carers of the coming change to our queue system since early this month.
Patients have also been advised to check that they have enough medication until their next appointment.
The well-being of Mr De Cotta’s father and our patients is at the heart of all we do. If he has further concerns regarding his father’s care, he can share his feedback with Sengkang Polyclinic’s clinic team or contact us at 6236-4800.
We wish him and his family the best of health.
