Department of Medical Social Work

What We Do

We provide assistance to our patients through the following avenues:

Patient Support
Our medical social workers provide counselling and support to patients and their family members to help them to cope with life changes arising from their medical condition. At the same time, psycho-social assessment and practical assistance are provided to help them cope with the often demanding medical treatment.

Patients who experience changes in their physical abilities due to illnesses, may have great anxieties about going home and what it means to their future and their family members. Our medical social workers play an important role in addressing these issues, helping to mobilise resources and proposing community resources including step-down care facilities that may best meet their needs.

Patients who are admitted due to distress and conflicts in their personal life will also receive counselling. These include patients who experience family violence, sexual assault, suicide attempts, abuse and neglect, amongst others.

Community Outreach
Besides providing direct assistance to patients and their families, our medical social work team helps patients by mobilising resources in the community to create new services or improving existing services to make them more relevant and responsive to patients' needs. The Department also provides public education to medical professionals, social/community agencies and the general public, through talks and lectures.

Volunteer Programme (NUH Friends)
To enhance patients' experience during hospitalisation at NUH, the Department runs the ‘NUH Friends' Volunteer Programme, where friendly volunteers help to brighten the lives of the patients through various activities.

CARE Initiative
In addition to the above core services, the Department heads and coordinates the CARE (Caring Action in Response to Emergency) team to provide psycho-emotional support during mass casualties and national emergencies.