TTSH makes frail, senior patients key priority as it celebrates 180 years

With growing numbers of seniors visiting its busy emergency department (ED), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) said a key priority is to look out for frail, senior patients, some of whom are at risk of readmission after they have been discharged.

- Joyce Teo

These patients, aged 65 and above, are flagged to the hospital’s geriatric team so that they can receive help to better manage their symptoms.

This helps them lead better lives and stay out of hospital as much as possible.

Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome characterised by diminished strength, endurance and physiologic reserves.

The hospital’s chief executive, Dr Tang Kong Choong, told The Straits Times ahead of celebrations to mark its 180th anniversary that TTSH has made a concerted effort to ensure that staff know to direct attention and care to the frail and elderly as Singapore rapidly ages.

TTSH ramped up efforts to detect frail, senior patients in its ED in 2022, following disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in previous years.

At the hospital’s 180th anniversary bash on July 19 at Capitol Theatre, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that TTSH has always been a people’s hospital.

“It was started by the community and has remained faithful to its founding ethos of being close to the community and caring for the community,” said President Tharman.