Woodlands Hospice opens; plans for 70 beds to serve palliative care needs in the north
More than 2,900 patients expected to be cared for at the hospice over the next six years.
Woodlands Hospice, a specialized end-of-life care facility, opened its doors on July 1, 2023, serving the northern region of Singapore. Initially, the hospice had 16 beds in a single ward within Woodlands Hospital (WH), but plans are underway to expand its capacity to accommodate 70 patients, potentially making it one of the largest inpatient hospice facilities in the country.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who officially opened the hospice on August 3, emphasized the significance of this development, noting that while there are providers of end-of-life care throughout Singapore, the north had previously lacked a dedicated provider. The palliative care sector has seen rapid growth in recent years, largely due to increased government financial support.
However, Ong stressed the importance of educating the public on coping with end-of-life care, particularly in cases of sudden heart attacks or strokes, which can lead to families questioning the care provided. Woodlands Hospice is a joint venture between WH and Ren Ci Hospital, with WH providing the resources of an acute hospital and WH's specialists offering palliative care expertise.
The facility is designed for patients too ill to remain at home, offering a comfortable and familiar setting where they and their families can feel at ease. WH had previously provided palliative care to patients in its community hospital ward since May 2024. Ren Ci Hospital brings expertise in nursing, allied health, and psychosocial care, as well as experience in managing complex and long-term care needs.
The community care partner for Woodlands Hospice is the Cheng Hong Welfare Service Society, which has committed $6 million over six years to support the hospice through various programs aimed at benefiting patients and their families. The hospice currently operates on the seventh floor of WH in a dedicated ward, E71, and has cared for approximately 30 patients since its opening.
With an average stay duration of two to three weeks, Woodlands Hospice primarily serves patients with advanced cancer and organ failure. The hospice accepts patients transferred from WH and referrals from other hospitals and nursing homes. Ren Ci Hospital plans to expand the hospice's capacity to 50 beds within four to six years, eventually reaching 70 beds as demand warrants.
In the long term, the hospice could potentially accommodate up to 70 beds. The ministry aims to train 10,000 nurses and healthcare workers in generalist palliative care by 2030, integrating palliative and geriatric care into the hospital's internal nursing core-competency training. Woodlands Hospice offers various amenities, including an activity area, sensory room, family lounge, and personalized patient spaces.
The facility encourages patients to wear their own clothes and provides programs such as music therapy, art therapy, and volunteer-led activities to support patients and their families emotionally and practically.
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