Issue 20

Community of Care

Central Health Newsletter

GP Publications

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Dear Partners and Friends,

The journey to a Healthier SG has begun! Healthier SG was officially launched by PM Lee on 8 July at the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park amidst great fanfare. The launch of this initiative heralds a sea change in the healthcare landscape with more preventive health programmes, a greater role for primary care and more joined-up care between health and social care partners.

In this issue, we get to hear the voices of residents and care providers in Ang Mo Kio on how Healthier SG has started to transform the community in the largest town served by Central Health and home to more than 160,000 residents.

Dr Melvyn Tan, a General Practitioner (GP) who has been caring for his patients in Ang Mo Kio for almost 20 years shares with us his observation on the evolving role of GPs, and how GPs are working towards providing more preventive health care. Also meet Mdm Ang, senior resident and volunteer who is not only empowered to take charge of her own health but spends time encouraging her peers to do the same by leading her friends and neighbours in exercising more at Methodist Welfare Services Active Ageing Centre.

To support the GPs in keeping the residents healthy, community partners in Ang Mo Kio are developing more lifestyle programmes and activities that GPs and residents can tap into. Read about how the Community Health Team is supporting the social prescribing program in Ang Mo Kio. Lastly, we take this opportunity to introduce the NHG Cares app – a mobile application which allows residents to access Health Kampung, a digital marketplace that offers a wide variety of community, lifestyle and social programmes across the Central and North region in Singapore.

As health and social care providers and partners, all of us want our residents to live well and meaningfully in the community. As we celebrate the nation’s birthday this month, let’s continue working together to bring better care to the residents we serve.

Wishing one and all a Happy National Day!

Yours Truly
Loh Shu Ching
Executive Director
Division for Central Health
Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Central Health

Bridging Residents to Better Health

Once a humble rural estate of rubber plantations and scattered villages, present day Ang Mo Kio has evolved into a bustling town of 161,900 residents with well-developed infrastructure and transport links.

Transforming Population Health - The Role of GPs in the Community

We caught up with Dr Melvyn Tan, a GP in Ang Mo Kio to get his perspectives on the role GPs can play in improving overall population health in Singapore.

Empowering Seniors Towards Healthier Living – One Exercise at a Time

Every Monday and Friday mornings, one can always find Mdm Ang Bong Chee, a highly energetic and cheerful 73 years old volunteer, leading exercise classes for seniors visiting Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Active Ageing Centre – Teck Ghee Vista.

Part of a Healthier Singapore

Partners, residents, and neighbours came together on 8 and 9 July at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park for the launch of Healthier SG.

Building a Healthier Community through our Community-of-Care

Eighty percent of primary care in Singapore is provided by about 1,800 General Practitioners’ (GP) private clinics, with polyclinics caring for the rest. This month, primary care doctors will become the navigators to the health journey of our residents.