Department of Palliative Medicine

We set up the first acute hospital-based palliative care service in Singapore in 2008. 

Comprising a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers and pharmacists, we work together to improve the quality of life of patients diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses such as advanced cancers and organ failure.

Common issues pertaining to the physical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects affecting patients and their families are addressed holistically.

Our operational guidelines:

  1. We are an interdisciplinary team that aims to alleviate physical, emotional, spiritual and social pain
  2. We are open to all patients with life-limiting diseases and their families
  3. We work in collaboration with the primary team which refers the patient
  4. We work in close association with the community services in order to provide a coordinated programme of palliative and supportive care to patients and families from time of referral through bereavement

Services / other information

Besides looking after the patients admitted directly to the department, we also provide inpatient consultation services to the other disciplines.

In addition, we run the Palliative Care Clinic (PCC) which operates daily from Monday to Friday.

The clinic sees new patients referred by doctors both within and outside TTSH, as well as patients discharged from the hospital.

We also work closely with the community hospice organizations, providing visiting consultancy service to both Assisi Hospice and Dover Park Hospice. Since April 2009, the department has been providing medical leadership and medical support to Dover Park Hospice.

Besides clinical work, we are committed to the education and training of undergraduate and postgraduate nurses, allied health workers, medical students, advanced specialist trainees and doctors with a special interest in palliative care.

We engage actively in audit and research work and also participate in activities organised by the Singapore Hospice Council and Lien Centre for Palliative Care.

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES OF THE TTSH PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE:
1 The PCS consists of an interdisciplinary team that aims to alleviate physical, emotional, spiritual and social pain.
2 The PCS is open to all patients with life-limiting diseases and their families.
3 The PCS works in collaboration with the primary team which refers the patient.
4 The PCS works in close association with community services in order to provide a coordinated programme of palliative and supportive care to patients and families from time of referral through bereavement.

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