“I had managed Lupus which caused kidney issues for over twenty years. However, when my Mother became ill with cancer and my condition became problematic I lost my job. I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to turn during this difficult time or how I would cope…….” – Mdm Neo.
For the past twenty years, Mdm Neo has been battling end-stage renal failure as a result of Lupus. This requires her to go for dialysis twice a week. Over the past two decades, she has been gainfully employed and able to support and manage her medical finances independently.
However, in 2016, Mdm Neo’s mother was struck with cancer, and at the same time, her own condition worsened. Due to time away from work to manage her condition and having to take care of her mother, Mdm Neo lost her job at a time when finances were critical to support both hers and her mother’s medical expenses.
The Medical Social Workers at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) worked with Mdm Neo to access the SGH Needy Patients Fund which was able to provide support for her dialysis treatment during that interim period so that she could focus on recovery and until a long term solution was available. Mdm Neo has since returned to work in stable condition.
SGH Needy Patients Fund offers urgent interim support to patients with financial assistance to access medical treatment and care. The fund helps the neediest patients who have undergone means-testing with basic and life-saving needs such as dialysis, equipment, consumables and treatments not covered by safety nets like MediFund.
