1)       SingHealth-related News

a)         SGH doctors on common liver diseases

CNA's PrimeTime Morning (7 Sep) interviewed Dr Jason Chang and Dr Tan Hui Hui, both from SGH's department of gastroenterology and hepatology, on different liver conditions. They discussed the role of the liver, common liver diseases, how they develop and treatment and prevention options. The doctors also explained that it is difficult to diagnose liver disease early as it asymptomatic. Details of the upcoming forum were also shared with viewers.

b)         CGH doctor on blood clots caused by heavy smoking

BH (p8) reported the story of a patient, who came to CGH with blood clots in his brain and left leg, caused by smoking. The clots could have led to a leg amputation or even been fatal. However following surgery to remove both clots, Mr Ismail is doing well and is very grateful that doctors at CGH were able to save his leg. Dr Steven Kum, a consultant with the department of surgery at CGH, was quoted in the article, explaining that diabetics and smokers are at particular risk of developing blood clots in their legs. He also stressed that it is important to remember that smoking may lead to gangrene and leg amputation.

c)         Bouquet: Thanks KKH, you're a 6-star maternity hospital

ZB (p17) carried a letter from Ms He Jun Hui who expressed her thanks to KKH's doctors, nurses and assistants for helping to ensure the smooth delivery of her daughter, who was born prematurely but is otherwise healthy. Ms He specifically thanked Dr Shepali Tagore and Dr Natalie Chua for their care. Ms He said that as she had suffered from high blood pressure, she had to undergo tests every day while in hospital, and this greatly worried her. However, seeing the bright smiles of the doctors and nurses gave her cause for optimism. Ms He was touched by KKH’s warmth and caring and thanked the hospital for making her feel like she was staying in a six-star hotel. She shared that after her 37-day stay in hospital, she even cried as she could not bear to part with the caring staff who had looked after her well-being.

d)         Letter: Give priority to fasting patients at polyclinics

MyPaper (pA17) carried a letter by Ms Low Khai Lin who recounted her elderly mother’s long frustrating wait at Sengkang Polyclinic. Ms Low shared that her mother had been fasting for nearly 10 hours and had to wait for another 2 hours before seeing a nurse to get her blood drawn. By her turn, the elderly patient was already very hungry and frustrated. Ms Low opined that authorities should beef up the manpower and give priority to such patients.

2)         Local Health News

a)         Home visits a boon for elderly Marsiling residents

ST (pB5) carried a report on the Elderly In Your Estate programme highlighted by SMS Hawazi Daipi during a visit to residents in his Marsiling ward yesterday. At the visit, SMS revealed that the initiative was borne out of his concern over the vulnerability of elderly who live alone. A programme was launched to ensure that elderly living alone in rental flats receive visits at least once in three months from students of two nearby educational institutions, Republic Polytechnic and Woodlands Secondary School. Since January, the programme has teamed each elderly with groups of at least three students whose visits entail bringing food, and helping with chores such as changing of light bulbs or cleaning the flat. The programme is part of a larger initiative to encourage the elderly to interact more with their neighbours and others, and to take part in grassroots activities. To help them lead a healthy lifestyle, a pilot programme where "health champions" each guide 10 residents on ways to live healthily was also introduced last year. Among other things, the Health Champion Group, trained by the Health Promotion Board, also teaches residents to understand their cholesterol levels and symptoms of diabetes. The group will be expanded to all races beyond Marsiling when launched by Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui at his community visit on Sep 26. TDY (p3) and CNA carried similar reports.

b)         Should banks have better dementia safeguards?

TDY (p6) reported that two recent incidents involving dementia patients and their bank accounts have led to calls for banks to review their procedures and offer better safeguards - at a time when the number of dementia cases in Singapore is expected to rise. It was noted that the Ministry of Health estimates that about 53,000 people here will be living with dementia by 2020, up from 22,000 in 2005. Ms Griselda Ong, acting director of elderly services at the Yong-en Care Centre, suggested that banks make it compulsory for both joint account holders to authorise a decision, if one of the account holders is above a certain age, and ask simple questions to ascertain a customer’s mental state. Ms Low Mui Lang, executive director of The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home, noted that it could be difficult for banks to tell if customers have dementia as "there are times when dementia patients are lucid". When asked to comment, a DBS spokesperson told TDY that "bank staff cannot pass credible judgement on the psychological or mental well-being of any customer". It also "cannot unilaterally invoke any sanctions on customers’ accounts even if the customer is mentally incapacitated".

c)         India's Fortis Healthcare eyes Singapore Reit

BT (p6) reported off Reuters that Fortis Healthcare is looking to list a real estate investment trust (REIT) in Singapore in the next six months to house its property assets and is looking at a valuation of US$600-700 million. The report noted a Fortis spokesperson commenting that setting up a REIT for its property assets would help Fortis to focus on its core business and that Fortis would want at least a 30 per cent stake in the REIT. It was however noted that Fortis faces some legal hurdles due to various rules concerning foreign property investments in India.

3)         Letter

a)         Not told medical insurance plan does not cover pregnancy

TNP (p15) carried a letter from Ms Lynn Rasul who referred to recent reports of a woman who had 3 insurance policies but found that none covered her breast cancer treatment. Ms Rasul shared that her family is covered by one insurance company and they pay a substantial premium of about $700 a month. Her insurance agent had recommended a hospitalisation and surgical cover policy for her family and explained what it covered. The policy was bought in January this year and in June, Ms Rasul had to be hospitalised and undergo emergency surgery due to complications from the delivery of her baby. She was discharged with a five-figure bill and tried to make a claim, but was told that the claim was rejected as the insurance plan she bought does not cover payments related to deliveries. Ms Rasul’s new agent said that the company offers a separate plan that covers pregnancy, which her previous agent did not tell her. She is filing an appeal but feels that at this rate, people will have to buy multiple policies just to cover themselves adequately. She asked why insurance companies cannot offer extensive coverage in one policy, instead of making consumers spend more to buy many different policies.

4)         Other Health News

a)         Japan had first ‘superbug’ case last year

TDY (p16) reported off AFP that authorities in Japan announced that its first case of an antibiotic-resistant "superbug" NDM-1 had been detected in a patient last year. A hospital linked to the Dokkyo Medical University in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, detected the "superbug" in a patient, who had returned from India and presented with febrile symptoms. According to a hospital spokesman the man in his 60s was hospitalised in May last year and, after a blood test, the hospital detected an antibiotic-resistant bacterium. He added that the patient has since fully recovered. CH 5 carried a similar report and ST (pA22) carried a snippet on it.