Tan Tock Seng Hospital Plans New Tower to Add 600 Beds

A proposed medical tower at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in Singapore is set to enhance healthcare capacity significantly. Announced by Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung on September 9, the tower will add approximately 600 acute beds and expand the hospital’s emergency department. This initiative is part of the next phase of the HealthCity Novena Master Plan, with an anticipated completion date beyond 2030.

The expansion aims to better serve the healthcare needs of around 1.5 million residents in central and northern Singapore. TTSH currently operates within mature housing estates and caters to a population with a higher proportion of seniors compared to the national average. In 2023, the hospital reported that its inpatients aged 65 and above were 1.5 times the national average for males and 2.2 times for females, according to NHG Health. As the demand for preventive screenings rises, timely interventions for patients with newly detected or complex chronic conditions will become increasingly important.

Enhancing Emergency Services

TTSH is one of Singapore’s busiest emergency hospitals, handling over 125,000 cases annually for the past three years. The hospital plans to relocate its emergency department to the new tower to accommodate the rising volume of patients. Notably, about 40 percent of those in the emergency department last year were aged 65 and older, a significant increase from 30 percent five years prior. The redesign of workflows in the new emergency area will aim for quicker triage and care coordination, minimizing unnecessary patient transfers.

For example, urgent but non-critical cases could be directed to operating theatres for prompt intervention, allowing patients to be discharged after short monitoring without needing an inpatient stay. Adjunct Professor Tang Kong Choong, CEO of TTSH, emphasized that merely increasing capacity is insufficient. The focus will be on designing smart and thoughtful solutions that cater to the challenges posed by an ageing population.

Addressing Surgical Needs

In response to rising demand for hospital admissions and surgical procedures, TTSH will implement expanded Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols. These protocols promote faster and safer recoveries, leading to shorter hospital stays. Between 2020 and 2024, TTSH experienced an average annual increase of 5 percent in admissions and outpatient visits, alongside a 10 percent yearly growth in surgical procedures. The hospital performed over 100,000 procedures last year, with increasing demand expected due to the country’s ageing demographic and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases.

Moreover, TTSH plans to explore less invasive surgical options for seniors through interventional radiological methods, which can reduce risk and expedite recovery. The proposed medical tower will also support a wide range of medical specialties, potentially expanding its nurse-led ambulatory care model for certain medical cases, allowing for earlier discharges compared to typical inpatient stays.

As part of its digital transformation, the new tower will integrate smart technologies to enhance care delivery and support Singapore’s ageing population. TTSH aims to optimize workflows and reduce physical strain on staff, ensuring that care teams can focus on delivering high-value, patient-centered care.

This ambitious project reflects Singapore’s commitment to evolving its healthcare landscape, ensuring that facilities like TTSH can meet the growing demands of its population while maintaining high standards of care.