Even patients who have been discharged from her ward receive regular calls from the 55-year-old to see how they are doing.

And when patients die, Ms Goh, who has worked at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for the last five years, continues to keep in contact with their family members, whom she sees as friends.

For her dedication, she will be one of the 50 health-care workers who will receive the Healthcare Humanity Award from President S R Nathan on Monday. The award recognises caregivers in both the private and public sectors who have shown courage, selflessness and compassion.

Ms Goh, who is trained in palliative care and has worked in a nursing home previously, believes that sincerity is the key in making every patient feel wanted or important.

'A kind word or a small touch does make a difference,' she said.

Even in her free time, Ms Goh cares for terminally ill patients in their homes and dishes out advice and emotional support to families who need them.

Into its sixth year, the Healthcare Humanity Award stems from the Courage Awards given out in 2003 to honour those who did not shy away from their work during the Sars outbreak.

A Courage Fund was set up that year as a fund-raising effort to provide relief for Sars victims and health-care workers.

Today, the fund continues to award those in the health-care sector and provides bursaries for nurses and allied health professionals.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.