Palliative Medicine | Sengkang General Hospital

Palliative care, also increasingly known as supportive care, is a holistic approach to caring for anyone diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer or other organ failures, to allow them to live as well as they can, for as long as they can.

Having a serious illness can be overwhelming for both patients and their families. Supportive and palliative care looks at the impact of the illness on you and your loved ones, and addresses a broad range of issues by integrating your goals, values, preferences and specific needs into your care. Importantly, it strives to optimise your quality of life by:

Preventing and addressing any physical symptoms which may arise during this serious illness, including treatment side effects
Offering support and resources to help you and your loved ones deal with emotions which come inevitably with the diagnosis and treatment of the serious illness
Providing informative advice and resources to help with practical aspects of your care

Our Clinical Services

The SKH Palliative Medicine Service provides specialised consultative services to patients living with serious or life-threatening illness. Our team of physicians and specialty nurses are focused on improving the quality of life for patients and their families—providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stresses of a serious illness or treatment-related symptoms.

Our team works closely with other clinical care teams to provide an additional layer of specialised support. We provide an inpatient consult service and specialist outpatient clinic service. In addition, we work closely with our community partners to ensure smooth transition of care from hospital to the community.

The direct aspects of our care include:

Prevention and management of pain and other symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, etc.) related to serious illness and its treatments
Patient and family/caregiver education
Emotional, psychological, and spiritual support
Care and discharge planning
End-of-life and bereavement care

Conditions We Treat

Anxiety Cancer Pain Depression

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FAQs

Is Palliative Care Medicine right for my loved one?

If your loved ones need additional support as a result of a life-limiting illness, the Palliative Care team might be able to help. Serious illnesses include but are not limited to:

Cancer
Dementia
Heart disease
Respiratory disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease

What does the palliative care team do?

The Palliative care team consists of specialists who are able to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses, allied health and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. The goal is to improve your quality of life according to what is most important to you. To do this, the palliative care team will:

Relieve your symptoms and distress
Help you better understand your disease and prognosis
Discuss with you, your treatment goals and options
Understand and support you to cope with your illness
Assist you with making medical decisions
Coordinate with your other doctors

Can I have curative treatment together with palliative care?

Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. You can have palliative care at the same time as you are getting curative treatment.

Our Care Team

Dr Kayleigh Ho Hui Min
Dr Amanda Tan Yen Teng
Ms Gan Pei Ying
Miss Saw Lip June
Miss Tou Li Chan
Mr Hazman Azri Mohd Sidik

News

Awards SKH Nurse on receiving the Tan Chin Tuan Nursing Award for Enrolled Nurses Wong Yen Ming, Principal Enrolled Nurse, Department of Radiology, SKH, was named the champion at the 19th Tan Chin Tuan Nursing Award for Enrolled Nurses on 21 November 2025. This award is the highest distinction in Singapore for enrolled nurses, recognising 12 nurses from public and community hospitals and community care service centres. Yen Ming shared that nursing, to her, goes beyond procedures — it is about listening, anticipating concerns, and helping patients feel safe and cared for during their most vulnerable moments. She has helped establish nuclear medicine services at SKH and her research during the COVID-19 pandemic was published in international journals and even cited in clinical guidelines worldwide.

21 Nov 2025 | The Straits Times Read Story

21 Nov 2025 | Yahoo News Read Story

Awards SKH Doctor awarded the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award At the 2025 National Medical Excellence Awards, Professor Christopher Cheng, Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, and former CEO of SKH, received the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award. Honoured by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Prof Cheng was recognised for mentoring numerous leading urologists across the region and for spearheading the development of the Mona Lisa robot, a patented innovation for prostate biopsy that has since become a commercial medical device.

20 Sep 2025 | The Straits Times Read Story

Announcements Sengkang General Hospital Holds Men's Health Forum to Champion Preventative Care and Wellbeing Among Men in Singapore On 30 August 2025, SKH held a Men's Health Public Forum at Suntec Convention Centre which drew nearly 300 participants. The forum featured expert talks, panel discussions, physiotherapist-led exercises, and live Q&As covering colorectal cancer, heart and liver wellness, weight management, mobility, erectile dysfunction, mental health, and other topics. SKH’s Community Health Fair survey findings last year revealed that while 94% of men valued healthy eating, only 11% exercised daily with nearly half exercising just 1-2 times weekly. These lifestyle gaps contribute to rising rates of preventable conditions including sarcopenia, fatty liver, obesity, colorectal cancer, and mental health issues. The event also launched "Man Up!", a book by Associate Professor Lee Lui Shiong, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Urology, SKH, featuring true stories from patients and caregivers navigating health challenges.

30 Aug 2025 Read Story

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