Patients with serious organ failure in Jurong to get more help at home under new scheme

A new healthcare initiative launched in Jurong on August 16 aims to provide greater support for patients suffering from severe organ failure, allowing them to receive care at home rather than returning to the hospital. The program targets individuals with chronic conditions such as kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure, offering regular monitoring and assistance following their discharge from Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. The initiative involves retired nurses and trained caregivers who make frequent visits to patients' homes to ensure their health is properly managed. These visits include checking vital signs and identifying early symptoms of worsening conditions. The goal is to reduce the chances of these patients needing to return to the hospital within 60 days of their release. This new scheme is part of a broader effort to strengthen local care systems and assist approximately 10,000 elderly residents living in Jurong East and Boon Lay. According to Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, the program will also help free up crucial hospital resources, enabling facilities to focus on treating the most urgent cases. She emphasized the importance of providing support to older adults whose health can fluctuate significantly, often leading to rapid decline from an active lifestyle to being confined to bed. Fu highlighted the significance of this initiative, noting that many seniors struggle to recover once their condition deteriorates. With proper support and confidence, she believes these individuals can improve their recovery outcomes and reclaim a higher quality of life. Given that Jurong East has one of the highest proportions of elderly residents in Singapore, bringing care services closer to home is essential. The Care Connect Hub, introduced by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital after a successful two-month pilot in 2025, involves experienced nurses from the hospital who are now retired. These nurses will assess high-risk patients and enroll them in the program, offering guidance on medications, follow-up appointments, and navigating available community care options. The initiative is a collaboration between Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and the Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre. Under this partnership, 25 volunteers from Loving Heart will undergo training to become community caregivers. These volunteers will conduct regular home visits to high-risk patients in the Jurong East area, monitoring their blood pressure and looking for early signs of complex chronic conditions. They will also encourage patients to attend scheduled medical appointments. While the volunteers are not medically trained, they will perform non-clinical tasks and adhere strictly to established protocols. If they notice any concerning symptoms in a patient, they will promptly inform a clinical team at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Dan Yock Young, Chief Executive of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital, stated that as healthcare demands grow more intricate, supporting patients effectively requires extending care beyond the confines of the hospital. He noted that this initiative helps patients feel more confident in managing their health at home while preventing unnecessary hospital readmissions. Additionally, it allows retired nurses and volunteers from Loving Heart to contribute meaningfully to the lives of seniors requiring assistance. According to a study conducted by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, among the 3,252 patients with kidney, heart, or liver failure who were readmitted within a year of discharge, 68 percent experienced at least one unplanned readmission within 60 days. Key factors contributing to these readmissions included insufficient social support and poor compliance with prescribed medications and appointment schedules. During the trial period in the final two months of 2025, the hospital observed that the 60-day readmission rate dropped from 40 percent to 31 percent among the 200 patients who received structured post-discharge follow-up. This indicates the potential effectiveness of the new approach in reducing hospital readmissions. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital reported that around 6,670 of its patients live with kidney, heart, or liver failure, representing a late stage of chronic disease. The hospital acknowledged that the progression of these diseases varies, and some patients may remain stable for long periods. However, it is clear that proactive management and support are necessary to maintain their health and prevent complications.