SGH's emergency department relocates to 1 Hospital Boulevard

Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) emergency department (ED) has moved from its old facility at Block 1 to level 3 of the new SGH Emergency/National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) building at 1 Hospital Boulevard.

To mark the occasion, on Jan. 18, at around 6:48am, a group of more than 150 SGH doctors and nurses partook in a symbolic march as a show of solidarity.

This move to a new building is part of SGH's 20-year masterplan to modernise its infrastructure, stated The Straits Times.

In a Facebook post, SGH said it brings their emergency teams "into a purpose-built space".

"Designed to support faster response, the new space provides better coordination, and care when every moment matters to our patients."

150 staff marched to the new ED

The planned symbolic march originally included eight nurses, a nurse manager and associate professor Kenneth Tan Boon Kiat, the ED head.

However, before the first shift started at the new ED, the marching group ballooned to 150 people, reported ST.

SGH's chief executive Tan Hiang Khoon, medical board chairman Loo Chian Min and chief nurse Ng Gaik Nai were present.

The trip between old and new EDs takes only around a minute, but was a milestone in the modernisation process for SGH's ageing infrastructure and future-readiness.

Speaking to ST, Tan stated that the ED move was complex due to the unpredictable nature of emergency services.

“The biggest challenge we’ve faced is helping people navigate our split campus set-up. It can be confusing for patients and visitors because vehicular access to our ED is through College Road and Hospital Crescent, not through the main building entrance that most people expect.”

In his staff address shortly before 7am, Tan thanked them for their efforts, noting how the team has weathered through the pandemic at this location and describing the building as their "fortress and home for a long time".

New facilities

The new ED has 10 triage rooms and 12 resuscitation rooms compared to four and six in the old ED, respectively, according to ST.

It also has a critical care area has a current capacity of 53 patients and 55 observation beds, whereas the old ED could only care for 15 patients and had a capacity of 37 patients in its observation area.

SGH opened the ED at Block 1 in 1977.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the new ED/NNI building happened on Apr. 3, 2018, with a 2023 completion date.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic stalled the building's opening, and the phased relocation began in December 2024.

Staff had to simultaneously operate at the former ED location and prepare for a complete shift to its new home.

The new ED is expected to officially open by June 2026.

Those who need emergency care can head directly to the new ED drop-off.

For more information on emergency care at SGH, check out their website.

Top photo from Singapore General Hospital/Facebook.