SINGAPORE - Mr Yang Tsin Hoong’s face lit up when he realised his new bed was next to a large window.
“My bed at the old place was next to the bathroom. It was hot and could get noisy. Now I get to see the greenery outside,” said the retired lorry driver-turned-karung guni (rag and bone) man.
The 72-year-old, who is terminally ill, is among 21 inpatients who were moved from Dover Park Hospice (DPH) in Jalan Tan Tock Seng to its new location at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital-Integrated Care Hub (TTSH-ICH) on Monday.
“We had made provisions in the event that patients were critically ill and could not be moved. A small medical team was supposed to have stayed back. Fortunately, everyone was well enough to make the move,” said DPH medical director Mervyn Koh.
In 1992, when it was announced that the hospice was to be built in Dover Road, there was an appeal from students and staff of Singapore Polytechnic to move it farther away from them.
The hospice was resited to Jalan Tan Tock Seng in 1993 and, 30 years on, it has moved to bigger and better premises.
Calling the move timely, DPH chief executive officer Liew Li Lian said: “We had to start daycare and home care services. During Covid, it was very hard to keep it going.
“I’m glad that we did because it helped us to see what other possibilities there are for people who need palliative care.”
The new hospice is bigger, with a larger daycare capacity – 70 beds compared with 50 at the old place.
Dr Liew said: “The services have outgrown the old building. It is more advanced at ICH, highlighting the current needs of palliative care. Some of the patients said it was like moving from a nice village into a fresh condominium.
“The environment feels more structured, more technologically advanced. This may not be a bad thing because patients want the assurance of always being monitored, of having the healthcare resources to give them the best last journey.”
She added that a palliative medical condition is a significant turning point, changing life forever.
“We know (patients) have to cope with their illnesses, so we work together with them, their family and friends to support their needs clinically and socially. Somebody has to make sure it happens. The alternative is that these important needs are not taken care of,” she said.
Ageing in place is now Singapore’s approach to long-term care for its rapidly ageing population.
It focuses on home and community-based care, with a growing preference among the elderly to age in place and die in their own homes.
Dr Liew said this is why there is a need for more palliative care services.
There are currently 18 hospices in Singapore, including Assisi and Dover Park hospices, HCA Hospice Care, Metta Hospice Care, Singapore Cancer Society Hospice Care, Methodist Welfare Services Home Care and Hospice, and Home Hospice Care with Homage.
DPH’s move to the new premises started about a week ago.
The last to be moved were the patients. The 21 inpatients were taken to the new premises, less than a kilometre away, in two hours in five ambulances.
The seven koi fish at the old DPH will also be moved to the new pond in the sky garden on the fourth level. The koi, which were the length of a $2 note when the hospice started 30 years ago, are now about 50cm long.
However, one resident will not be moving.
Betty, a community cat that has made DPH her home for the last four years, will be left behind as cats are not allowed in the new sterile setting.
“We did try to rehome her, but to no avail, so we brought her back to the hospice. We have a team of dedicated ‘colleagues’ of Betty who will take turns to go to the old premises to feed her.
“The neighbourhood feeders will also keep an eye on her,” a hospice spokesman said.
Correction note: This story has been updated for clarity.
