Transforming Child Health For The Future

from KTP-NUCMI 60 Years of Child Health

Note From Professor Chong Yap Seng

2010

The Department of Paediatrics receives a generous donation of S$50 million from the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat and is renamed the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI).

This meaningful gift enables the cluster to transform paediatric care and bring it to greater heights of excellence. This includes the development and expansion of programmes to bring about holistic care and funding for research grants to support studies in various disciplines and specialties.

Underscoring the commitment to better serve our patients and their families, the gift enables the establishment of an integrated paediatric outpatient facility with medical, diagnostic and rehabilitation services under one roof. Work commences on the new paediatric ambulatory centre at KTP-NUCMI.

A bust of the late Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat in the lobby of the KTP-NUCMI building as a symbol of gratitude towards the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat. The official work commencement ceremony for the outpatient facility was graced by the Trustees of the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat and the leadership of NUHS and KTP-NUCMI.

2016

2019

The new KTP-NUCMI outpatient facility welcomes its first outpatients in January.

The 10-storey-high building reinforces holistic care in a child-friendly and family-centred environment. The completion of the building marks a significant milestone for paediatric care in Singapore. It has provided the impetus to continually transform paediatric medicine in the face of change and make a substantial difference to the lives of children.

The move to the new building started over a weekend. Our clinicians, nursing, allied health and admin staff undertook a massive task to move several clinics into the new building and unpack in time to open on a Monday. The centre focuses on creating a therapeutic environment that is child-centric and family-friendly. Its environment and vibrant, themed interiors serve to provide the child and family a holistic care experience.

2020

KTP-NUCMI is awarded three international awards for its outstanding health facility design – Best International Health Project 2020 (under 40,000sqm) at the International Design and Health Awards, 2020 International Interior Design Association Healthcare Design Award (Ambulatory – Paediatric) and an Honourable Mention (Architectural Design) at the Outstanding Property Award London 2019.

The child-centric and family-friendly environment features a ‘playscape’ design concept inspired by nature. Waiting time is translated into play time in the themed waiting areas as children interact and explore the theme-inspired features within the observatory vicinity of the parents.

The centre hopes to change the way paediatric care is delivered in Singapore, to elevate healthcare for children and adolescents, and to improve health outcomes for the future.

a siGnifiCant Contribution to transforMinG PaediatriC Care, eduCation and researCh

Advancing Paediatrics in KTP-NUCMI

The generous gift supports KTP-NUCMI's advancement of paediatric education, research and patient care, which has benefited many generations of children in Singapore and the region.

Clinical Programmes

▶ Allergy Management Centre ▶ Children, Adolescent and

Family Support Services ▶ Growth and Nutrition Programme ▶ Learning and Behavioural Programme ▶ Paediatric Ethics and Advocacy Centre ▶ Paediatric Palliative Care Programme ▶ Rehabilitation Programme for

Children with Special Physical Needs ▶ Sleep and Aerodigestive Centre ▶ Undiagnosed Case Clinic

Research Programmes

▶ Allergy Research Programme and the

Development of the House Dust Mite Vaccine ▶ Assessment of Heart Health and the

Development of the ‘Lab on a Chip’ ▶ Cancer Research Programme and the Detection of Early Relapse ▶ Children Development Issues in the Community ▶ Developing new Clinical Diagnostic Tools/Aids ▶ Health Outcomes Research ▶ Research in Obesity ▶ Research on the Immune System and its Effect on Transplants ▶ Study on Genes and its Effect on

Response to Infection ▶ Studying Trends in Diseases

Outreach Programmes

▶ Global Aid Programme (GAP Fund) to help needy foreign patients

▶ Under Global Health Outreach, the gift had partially sponsored these projects in the past: ◊ Retinablastoma Early Detection Programme in Mindanao, Philippines (2011 to 2017) ◊ Project Sothea – Medical Students Outreach Programme in Cambodia (2013 to 2019) ◊ Medical Symposium at Kunming, China (2014)

While good clinical care remains our focus, as paediatricians, we are constantly thinking of ways to take the fear and anxiety out of children when they come to the hospital. For some of our young warriors, the treatment process can be challenging in more ways than one. We try to ease the experience for them by creating a therapeutic and supportive environment that they can relate to. This explains the various nature-related themes in the building. To this end, we have also sought out like-minded collaborators with the aim of making an outpatient visit for little ones less intimidating and a more pleasant one.

A/Prof Daniel Goh

This project is one of the highlights of my career here. I worked with a team of dedicated building consultants, contractors and colleagues from various departments in NUH, including Operations Support Services, Facilities Development, Hospitality Services, Infection Control and KTP-NUCMI Operations team. Each individual played an important role as we worked closely to provide a child-and-family-friendly facility that was safe and functional and that gave all of us a great sense of purpose.

Dr Tyrone Goh

A/Prof Daniel Goh and Dr Tyrone Goh were the Project Owner and Project Director of the KTP-NUCMI Steering Committee and played an instrumental role in the planning and development of the building.

Chapter 2

Featuring the uplifting journeys of some of our patients who have made tremendous progress in their recovery. Having triumphed over adversity, they are now leading meaningful and fulfilling lives. Their resilience and fortitude continue to inspire all at the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute. These stories, as well as countless others, will always remind us to do our best for our patients every day.