ENHANCING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FOR SOLDIERS

The Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, which will be located close to the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) major training areas in western Singapore, will provide hospital emergency medical care to SAF personnel training in the west when completed in end-2014.

It will also provide training and research opportunities for SAF medical personnel to develop their professional knowledge and capabilities in Emergency Medicine via clinical attachments and education programmes.

These are the key objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the SAF Medical Corps and JurongHealth at the SAF's HQ Medical Corps in Nee Soon Camp on 21 May.

Chief of Medical Corps Colonel (COL) (Dr) Kang Wee Lee stressed the importance of the SAF Emergency Medical Support System (EMSS): "The EMSS serves as a key enabler for tough, safe and realistic training. In this aspect, the SAF is deeply committed in ensuring that our servicemen continue to receive high quality emergency medical care, which is commensurate with our national public health care system."

He added that through the collaboration, both parties will benefit from the professional exchanges and leverage on each other's strengths to remain at the forefront of medical advances.

Associate Professor Cheah Wei Keat, Chairman of Medical Board of JurongHealth, noted that the collaboration will see JurongHealth and SAF medical personnel working together to "enhance SAF's overall medical capability for critical cases".

This will improve health care for SAF personnel training in the west and increase responsiveness to emergency cases such as trauma and heat injuries, he said.

Ng Teng Fong General Hospital's Emergency Department has been designed to provide highly responsive medical care through state-of-the-art facilities such as dedicated trauma lifts and a fully-equipped trauma bay.

Under the MOU, the SAF Medical Corps will also explore research work with JurongHealth in Emergency Medicine and opportunities for collaborations in other medical disciplines.