Your Journey at SGH Emergency Department

Patients in a state of cardiovascular or imminent collapse are attended to immediately at the Resuscitation Area. The doctors will speak to the family member after they have assessed and stabilised the patient.

Examples: Heart attack, severe injuries, severe bleeding, shock and severe asthma attack.

Patients with acute medical conditions that must be initially treated in the Hospital. They are in stable condition and do not require resuscitation. They are required to be trolley-based for patient examination and treatment. These patients are attended to early at the Critical Care Area. The doctors will speak to the family member after they have initially assessed the patient.

Examples: Major limb fracture / dislocation, moderate injuries, severe abdominal pain and other severe medical illnesses.

Patients with acute symptoms who are in a stable condition and are able to walk. These patients may be treated by General Practitioners (GP) / Family Physicians with acute care resources or at the Emergency Department. After Triage, they are seen at the Emergency Consultation Area. Family members may enter the consultation room with the patient, but they may be asked to take a seat in the waiting area when examinations and procedures are being performed.

Examples: Sprains, minor injuries, minor abdominal pain, vomiting, rashes and mild headaches.

If it's an old injury or a condition that has been present for a long time such as Chronic joint pains, chronic skin rash, long-term nasal discharge, old scars, cataracts and removal of tattoos. you preferably be attended to by General Practitioners (GP) / Family Physicians. The Emergency Department is not the appropriate facility for their care. You may wish to go to your own General Practitioner or to a polyclinic.

As queue numbers are not necessarily called in sequence, we advise patients to stay in the department if you have not been seen by a doctor.

After we have assessed and stabilised the patient, doctors will update next-of-kin (NOK) either in person or via telephone. Our staff will ask for the contact details of the nominated NOK at registration, which will be captured in the system. We seek your understanding that we will only be able to update the nominated NOK as our medical team is focusing on delivering care and treatment to the patient.

We seek your understanding that our medical team is focusing on delivering care and treatment to patients and will only update the nominated next-of-kin on the patient’s condition should there be any changes in the patient’s condition. Patients will be updated on their condition after their assessment at the Emergency Department and we will advise patients to keep their families updated as well. You may contact the patient directly via their mobile phone.

We will send an SMS with the patient’s ward, room and bed details to the nominated next-of-kin (NOK) once the patient has been transferred up to the ward. If you are not the nominated NOK, please get the information from the nominated person or contact the patient directly.

In the consultation area, one companion is allowed per patient. In the critical care area, one companion is allowed only if the Patient cannot manage without caregiver support (e.g. children, patients with dementia, etc.). You may contact the patient directly via their mobile phone.

If patients are not restricted from eating or drinking, meals will be provided if patients are admitted or under observation.

You may pass the items to the Patient as long as they are not in the Resuscitation, Critical Care or Isolation areas. If you are unable to visit the patient, please pass the items to our staff at the registration counter. We strongly discourage our patients from holding on to valuables in case they are misplaced.

You can find a complete list of eateries, 24h convenience stores, gift stores and ATMs in SGH here.

When visiting the A&E, please bring along your Identity Card, Work Permit, foreigner pass or passport if possible. We do accept the National Digital Identity Card in the SingPass app as well. For patients who do not have these documents with them when they visit the Emergency Department, treatment will proceed and family members are advised to bring their documents as soon as possible.

Our A&E service & facility fee covers basic investigations and services provided. Specialised emergency investigations and services will involve extra cost and hence additional charges.