专家：本地病例近日增加或因F1和免疫力开始减弱 (Experts: Recent increase of local cases may be due to F1 and weaker immunity)

​Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), said that given the last wave of the pandemic occurred five to six months ago, it was likely that the local population’s natural immunity had begun to wane, coupled with resumption of international travels. Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Disease, National University Hospital, added if F1 was a super spreading event, there would be higher numbers over the next few days but it should settle in weeks. A/Prof Jeremy Lim, Director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation at SSHSPH, said that the hospital utilisation and ICU occupancy rates were still within tolerable limits.

NUHS conducts research to help elderly delay and prevent dementia

National University Health System (NUHS) conducts research to help elderly delay and prevent dementia.

Channel NewsAsia, Channel 8 and Lianhe Zaobao reported on the NUHS lifestyle intervention study. The SINgapore GERiatric intervention study, or SINGER, aims to delay cognitive decline and physical frailty for those at risk. The two-year study involves intervention methods like cognitive training, nutritional guidance and exercise. Since August 2021, NUHS had recruited more than 350 participants, and recruitment was expected to continue until the end of 2023.

A/Prof Christopher Chen, Director of the Memory Ageing and Cognition Centre, NUHS; Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; and Visiting Consultant in the Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, discussed the types of intervention and the effective combinations in reducing the risk of dementia.

Ms Connie Teo, Manager, Memory Ageing and Cognitive Centre, NUHS, said that being cared for to stay healthy, served as a positive encouragement to the elderly to stay healthy.

SINGER participant and former actor, Mr Woo Wei Quee, shared that seniors are at risk of memory loss and they must prevent onset of dementia early. He encouraged seniors to participate in the on-going study. He noted that the study team was caring and provided professional advice.

如何使用 ABCDE 规则识别皮肤癌早期迹象,患治疗方案有哪些? (How to use the “ABCDE rule” to identify early signs of skin cancer and what are the treatment options?)

​Skin cancer is one of the top ten cancers in Singapore and it has been steadily increasing among those under the age of 65. Dr Adeline Yong, Associate Consultant, Division of Dermatology, National University Hospital and National University Cancer Institue Singapore, discussed the risk factors and explained how to use the “ABCDE rule” to identify early signs of skin cancer, as well as the treatment options available.

Curing gut infections with healthy poop

​SGH is setting up a stool bank and is collaborating with NUH and The Chinese University of Hong Kong to collect microbiome data from patients with inflammatory bowel disease caused by chronic inflammation of the gut.

助患癌儿童 重拾健康未来 (Helping children with cancer regain a healthy future)

​ZB feature on paediatric cancers highlighted the story of a mother and her four-year-old son Kang Jun Rui (transliteration). The boy had swelling around the eyes at two years old and underwent a series of tests that were initially negative. Eventually, detailed tests that included a bone marrow biopsy revealed that he had acute myeloid leukaemia. After his successful treatment, the mother has returned to the workplace.

NUHS embarks on multidomain lifestyle intervention study to reduce cognitive decline and physical frailty in older adults

5 common myths about PCOS, dispelled

​A story on debunking the myth of curing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through weight loss cited content from NUH’s website, which stated that most women with PCOS are unusually resistant to insulin, and thus are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke at a much younger age than other women. Insulin resistance may lead to faster weight gain, hence the relationship between weight and PCOS. However, losing weight is not a cure for the condition. Rather, changes to lifestyle measures is the best way to manage PCOS.

'I’m afraid he'll be lonely when we’re gone': S'porean parents share challenges of raising child with autism

​An article highlighting the struggles of a Singaporean couple with a 14-year-old son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cited content from NUH’s website, which stated that ASD is a lifelong neuro-developmental condition. A child with ASD may have difficulties in social communication and interaction, as well as some restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities.

• The Crowd Review, ‘I’m afraid he’ll be lonely when we’re gone’: S’porean parents share challenges of raising child with autism
  

Actor Duan Weiming a changed man, takes diabetes medication so others won’t worry

​TNP featured local actor Duan Weiming’s life after having to amputate part of his left leg. Duan shared he had a follow-up appointment at NUH, but felt that he was unlikely to go as he thought the hospital was far from home and “not worth the trouble to travel to”.

New model lets patients get hospital care at home

​A new care model by the Ministry of Health Office for Healthcare Transformation, National University Health System (NUHS@Home), Singapore General Hospital (SGH@Home) and Yishun Health Medical Home would make use of mobile medical teams to help ease the hospital bed crunch. Called the Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home (MIC@Home), up to 2,000 patients could be treated at home in this manner over the next two years. The aim would be to increase patient comfort, reduce hospital acquired infections, improve manpower efficiency and increase bed capacity without the need to build more inpatient wards in hospitals.

Reports cited an National University Health System study which found that over three quarters of patients were willing to try home hospitalisation. Dr Stephanie Ko, Consultant, Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, National University Hospital, and Lead Clinician, NUHS@Home, said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are a lot more receptive to things being brought to their doorstep, and this programme is coming in at a very opportune time, where medical care is brought to their homes.

Ms Teo Soo Leng, who was hospitalised under NUHS@Home, shared that she was impressed by how proactive and contactable the team was when she was on the programme. She added that her mother had peace of mind to be able to watch over her at home. 

Dr Sandra Tan, Associate Consultant, Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, National University Hospital, said that with the ageing population in Singapore and limited capacity in terms of resources, building more hospitals may not necessarily be the solution and the MIC@Home programme aims to tackle these healthcare resource barriers.

• The Straits Times Online, 29 September 2022, The Big Story, Patients can now be hospitalised at home, be cared for via teleconsultations
  
• Lianhe Zaobao, 30 September 2022, Page 6,  一些病患在家"住院"护理无差体验更佳 (Better experience for some patients with `inpatient` care at home)
  
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 29 September 2022, 急诊病患可选居家住院 治疗相同但费用或更低 (Emergency patients can choose Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home for hospitalisation; same treatment but at a lower cost)
  
• Shin Min Daily, 29 September 2022, Pages 1 and 3, 试行'居家病房'计划 病患：医药费降低 新加坡国立大学医院高级 (`Hospital-at-Home` pilot: Patient says medical bill is cheaper)
  
• 8world, 29 September 2022, 居家急症医护服务再扩大 让更多病人在家养病 (MIC@Home further expanded to allow more patients recuperate at home)
  
• Berita Harian, 30 September 2022, Pages 1 and 2, Pesakit punya pilihan dijaga pasukan perubatan di rumah tanpa dirawat di hospital (Patients have option of receiving care from medical team at home without being treated at hospital)
  
• Berita Mediacorp, 29 September 2022, Program baru MIC@Home beri pesakit pilihan jalani jagaan bertaraf hospital di rumah (New program MIC@Home give patients the option of hospital-grade care at home)
  
• Tamil Murasu, 30 September 2022, Pages 1 and 2, ில் $நாயாளிகள் வீட்டில் நங்கி சிரிச்சை பெறலாம் (Some patients can now be hospitalised at home)
  
• Channel NewsAsia, 29 September 2022, Singapore Tonight, 10pm
  
• Hospital Management Asia, 29 September 2022, HMA conference to look at future of Hospital at Home model in Asia
  
• eGlobalTravelMedia, 30 September 2022, HMA conference to look at future of Hospital at Home model in Asia
  

感谢国大医院团队 (Thank you, NUH team)

​In a forum letter, a patient expressed her appreciation towards Dr Lim Wei Sian, Associate Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, NUH, and his team, as well as NUH staff nurses Ms Chung Kin Mei and Ms Jessey Chia who took care of her while she was hospitalised. She highlighted Dr Lim’s clear explanations, fluency in Mandarin and friendly disposition. The patient also commended the nurses for their warmth, care and positive work attitude.

Taking health more seriously: Duan Weiming

​ST noted that local actor Duan Weiming was hospitalised at NUH after a surgery to amputate part of his left leg in early September due to diabetes. The article, which featured the actor’s life since his amputation, also indicated that he has follow-up appointments at NUH.

Is the pandemic over? Experts say no, but China still needs zero-Covid exit plan

​Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Disease, NUH and former Chair of WHO’s Steering Committee of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, said it was not time to declare the emergency over. Prof Fisher explained there are some countries where only about 20% of the population is vaccinated and there is “still quite a lot of work to do globally”.  He said each country should decide how much to intervene depending on its own situation.  

儿童睡眠障碍专家　吴炎添获颁卓越临床医生导师奖 (Paediatric sleep disorder expert Daniel Goh was awarded the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award)

​Lianhe Zaobao, Straits Times and 8world reported that A/Prof Daniel Goh, Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Pulmonary Medicine, KTP-NUCMI, NUH and Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, NUS Medicine received the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award at the National Medical Excellence Awards. Reports highlighted that A/Prof Goh had contributed significantly to the clinical, research, and education in paediatrics in Singapore, in the region and internationally, and he had mentored paediatricians for over nearly 30 years. 

• Straits Times, Page A14, Two who played key clinical roles during pandemic receive medical excellence awards 
  
• Straits Times Online, National Medical Excellence Awards go to 5 docs, 2 community care teams
  
• 8world, 共有五人和两团体获颁今年卫生部全国医学卓越奖 (Total of five individuals and two teams have been awarded the Ministry of Health’s National Medical Excellence Awards 2022)
  

Bincang mitos tentang barah buah dada (Discussing myths about breast cancer)

​Ms Nadirah Selamat, Radiographer, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, NUH, discussed several misconceptions about mammograms at a fireside sharing session organised by Berita Harian and the Breast Cancer Foundation. Titled "Early Detection Saves Lives, Saves Breasts", the fireside sharing session is posted on Berita Harian's Facebook.