A soft opening for the Outram Community Hospital (OCH) was held on Dec. 7.

Offering step-down care

Developed under the Healthcare 2020 Masterplan, this is Singapore's ninth community hospital, and it is the first community hospital in the south to provide step-down care.

This means rehabilitating and helping patients to transit from the hospital to home more easily.

The hospital was built to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services, and the ageing population's healthcare needs.

The hospital has been designed to simulate HDB units, where patients can practise performing daily activities under guidance, making a more seamless transition to everyday life when they leave the hospital.

The hospital will add around a total of 545 beds to the health care system when it's fully open in 2022.

Facilities to help patients practise moving around

The hospital also has facilities that simulate buses and trains, for patients to familiarise themselves with navigating the public transport system while on a wheelchair.

The Straits Times added that there are rehabilitation facilities within the hospital's rooftop garden, which has a communal outdoor space that allows patients to practise navigating stairs, slopes and rocky paths.

The community hospital is linked to the Singapore General Hospital via a link bridge.

Patients will also receive care from multi-disciplinary teams from OCH, DGH and SingHealth National Specialty Centres.

HCA Hospice Care will also be locating their home hospice offices and a day hospice at OCH.

Top image via Singhealth's website