Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at the Singapore Patient Conference 2016

Professor Philip Choo, Group Chief Executive Officer, National Healthcare Group
Dr Eugene Soh, Chief Executive Officer, Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Ms Anita Fam, Chairman,Institutional Committee, Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Mr Ching Wei Hong, Chairman, Families for Life Council
Distinguished speakers and judges,
Patients, Caregivers, Community Partners, Volunteers and Healthcare Colleagues

Good morning.

1.          I am delighted to join you at the annual Singapore Patient Conference and the Singapore Patient Action Awards.

‘Activating Patients and Families’ in the Community

2.          The theme for this year’s patient conference – ‘Activating Patients and Families’, is about bringing out the value of the partnership between healthcare, patients, families and the community.  When patients and their families understand why they need to actively participate in their healthcare, they feel empowered to do so and become more involved. Research has shown that engaged individuals and families actively working with their health care teams have better outcomes, often choose more cost effective options when participating in shared decision-making and express greater satisfaction with their healthcare experiences.

Collaborative Partnerships for Building Strong and Healthy Families

3.          As such, healthcare providers should partner and engage individuals and families to build a patient and family-centred system of care. With such partnerships, we can start a meaningful journey to build a community of patients and families who are motivated and empowered to take charge of their health and well-being.

4.          The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be launched in a short while represents a crucial step to formalise the partnership between Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Families for Care and the Families for Life Council.  This is the first partnership between Tan Tock Seng Hospital and a people-sector partner to foster individual, family, and community involvement in activities related to one’s personal health and family life. This will better equip patients and their families with the knowledge and resources to self-manage some of their health issues.

Building Healthy Families and Communities

5.          Several patients turned caregivers and volunteers whom I have met have personal stories of how they overcame their illnesses and adversities and made a positive impact on their families and the community.

6.          One inspiring story is that of 66-year-old Mdm Ang Ley Keow. She joined the Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP), a programme under the Community Health Engagement Programme at TTSH four years ago. Using her newly acquired knowledge from CDSMP, Mdm Ang came up with a 10-week fitness programme for  the seniors living in the Commonwealth and Dover area, to help seniors lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. Mdm Ang also developed a series of simple exercises for her ailing elderly parents and reorganised the living space in their home to build a conducive living environment where they could continue to engage in cognitive activities as a family. She also activated her extended family and got her four grandchildren involved in caring for their great-grandparents.

7.          Having benefitted from the programme and wanting to give back to the community, Mdm Ang took on the role of a volunteer facilitator for the programme. She also volunteers at the Institute of Mental Health by coaching children with special learning needs and counselling their caregivers. Patient advocates like Madam Ang are valuable gems whom we hope will inspire many more patients and caregivers to step up and make a positive impact within their families and the community.     

Paying Tribute to the Nominees of Singapore Patient Action Awards

8.          Today, I am honoured to have this opportunity to celebrate the courage and resilience of our patients, caregivers and volunteers, who have made the community a better place through their efforts. Every award nominee has an inspiring story to tell and everyone is a winner today.

9.          I would like to make special mention of Madam Hoong Mee Ngeuk and ‘a volunteer-centred programme of Assisi Hospice called “No One Dies Alone’. They are the recipients of the Patient Caregiver Award and Patient Engagement Initiative Award respectively.

10.     Madam Hoong has been a full-time caregiver for the past three years to her mother who has dementia. She engages her mother in daily physical and cognitive activities, and takes extra effort to plan simple household chores for her to retain her sense of purpose and mobility. Knowing the challenges and struggles faced when caring for a loved one with dementia, Madam Hoong joined the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) as an elder-sitter in 2013. At ADA, she readily shares her stories and experiences with fellow caregivers and inspires them with her positive, selfless and caring attitude.

11.     An advocate of lifelong learning, Mdm Hoong continues to upgrade her caregiving skills and has contributed to improving dementia care knowledge and research by participating in a dementia research project.

12.     The ‘No One Dies Alone’ (NODA) programme by Assisi Hospice has volunteers providing friendship and companionship to patients who have neither families nor close friends by their side. Volunteers take turns keeping vigil by the patient’s bedside. They spend time with these patients ranging from a few hours to even a few days, providing a comforting presence and lending emotional and psychological support.

13.     Through the dedication and commitment of the volunteers, the team has found great meaning in being able to build relationships with these patients and walk alongside them in their final journey in life knowing that they were loved and cared for till the very end.

Conclusion

14.     These stories speak volumes of the love, sacrifice and support given by the family members, friends, volunteers and healthcare staff, which have brought great comfort, joy and hope to our patients. My congratulations to all award nominees and winners as well for being a role model and inspiration for all of us to similarly create a positive change in the lives of those we meet.