TTSH Converts Carpark into Makeshift Screening Space

By
Shawn Ambrose
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When Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that our hospitals are “coming under pressure”, he certainly wasn’t exaggerating.

Over the past month or so, COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed to numbers we’ve never seen before in Singapore.

Naturally, with such high numbers, our healthcare facilities are at risk of being strained.

To deal with the large influx of cases, hospitals must come up with imaginative ways to house all the extra patients.

TTSH Converts Carpark into Makeshift Screening Space

If you drove into a certain carpark in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) recently, you might wonder if you took a wrong turn and accidentally ended up in a ward.

Yesterday, a netizen shared a video of a carpark at TTSH full of patients.

In the video, rows of patients on hospitals beds could be seen in the large space, with staff members in protective personal equipment walking around.

According to the netizen who took the video, a carpark in the hospital had been converted to a ward.

“The situation doesn’t look good. Try to stay home as much as possible,” they said.

Just outside the space, ambulances could be seen coming in and out.

Carpark is Screening Space

Speaking to CNA, TTSH explained that the facility is an extension of its emergency department to create more “screening space”.

It’s part of the hospital’s “safe COVID-19 ramp up efforts”, driven by the surge in community cases.

This move wasn’t exactly unexpected, as the hospital announced a few days ago on Facebook that it would be closing one of its carparks to create more screening space.

It advised visitors to park their vehicles at the hospital’s main block, or at Carpark A, located along Sinaran Drive.

MOH: The Last Week Has Been Rough

On Sunday (19 Sep), TTSH said it’s been receiving higher than usual COVID-19 positive and suspect cases via ambulances and walk-ins at its Emergency Department (ED).

“The last week has been rough,” it said.

This is why it urged residents to seek medical attention at a GP or polyclinic if their condition is not urgent or an emergency.

“With the surge in community cases, we are working hard to open more waiting and screening spaces, and activating more wards and staff to augment our COVID-19 response,” it said.

“There may hence be inconveniences such as a longer wait time, a rescheduled clinic appointment or visit restrictions.”

“We ask ahead for your understanding and patience to ride this wave out together,” it added.

All Hospital Visits Suspended for 4 Weeks

In a news release, MOH noted that with the rise in community cases, more infections have been detected amongst hospital staff, patients, and visitors.

This is why it will tighten measures at public and private hospitals.

From today (24 Sep), all visitations to hospital wards will be suspended for a period of four weeks, until 23 Oct.

However, the following patient groups may be allowed visitation on a case-by-case basis, as assessed by the hospital:

1. Patients who are in critical condition
2. Paediatric patients
3. Birthing/post-partum mothers
4. Patients requiring additional care support from caregivers. (Examples include the assistance of inpatients who have mental incapacities or family members who are undergoing caregiver training to better care for their loved ones after hospital discharge.)

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]