CHANGI General Hospital (CGH) is inviting general practitioners (GPs) to run clinics within its premises, a move it hopes will help wean patients off hospital doctors.
By familiarising patients with neighbourhood doctors while they are in hospital, it is hoped that these patients would go for follow-up treatment at the GPs' private clinics, rather than return to the hospital.
Noting that patients tend to stick with specialists they have become comfortable with, CGH chief executive T.K. Udairam said: 'We need patients to understand that some of the GPs are also specialists and are very comfortable taking care of a lot of conditions we are treating.
'GPs are no different from a lot of the doctors I have in the hospital.'
Speaking at CGH's 10th anniversary celebrations yesterday, he said that the move was in line with Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan's call for 'right siting' of health care.
In other words, moving patients that do not need to be in hospital, into the care of community hospitals or polyclinics.
Already, about 600 letters have been sent out to various doctors in the east.
Those who sign up will likely run hospital clinics once a week while maintaining their private practices.
And though the cost of seeing a GP is likely to be higher than a visit to the hospital, the hospital said patients who do so will be able to form a long-term relationship with their GPs.
The guest of honour at CGH's 10th anniversary celebrations was Singapore Press Holdings chairman Tony Tan.
He said: 'CGH has made significant achievements in the last 10 years.
'I am confident that CGH will continue to achieve great success as you serve the health-care needs of your community.'