SINGAPORE - Sengkang General and Community Hospitals will open by the second half of 2018, equipped with clinics that provide specialised services for eye and heart conditions.

The hospitals will be collaborating with the National Heart Centre and Singapore National Eye Centre, both located at the Singapore General Hospital at Outram.

Professor Christopher Cheng, chief executive of Sengkang Health, said: "This means residents in the Northeast will be able to access these specialist services nearer to their homes".

Speaking at the launch of Community Health Fair at Compass One in Sengkang, organised by Sengkang Health on Saturday (June 3), Prof Cheng said the development of the hospitals is progressing smoothly and is on track to be completed on time.

"We have spent countless hours poring over the plans to ensure the services will be smooth and seamless," he added.

When fully opened, the hospitals will add 1,400 beds to meet the healthcare needs of Singapore's ageing population.

The hospitals will also be leveraging on telehealth technologies to better support community care.

For example, rehabilitative help will be provided remotely so that discharged patients can do rehab exercise at home, with the support of a therapist from the hospital.

The hospital team is also working closely with general practitioners in the Northeast to provide health screening and aid in the management of stable chronic diseases.

Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport Lam Pin Min, who was guest-of-honour at the launch, again stressed the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

"As much as possible, we want to move upstream in our efforts to ensure everyone stays healthy so that they do not have to visit the clinic or hospitals in the first place," he said.

At the Community Health Fair, the public can learn about diabetes and cancer, and how to manage and prevent these conditions. Visitors can also learn about ageing, including tips to prevent falls at home.

The fair ends on Sunday (June 4), 9pm.