Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH: Ong Ye Kung

Year-old 1,000-bed facility also sets standard for future hospitals, he says

- Ng Wei Kai

The opening of the Woodlands Health (WH) campus has eased the load on the nearby Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) and shortened waiting times for patients, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Aug 2.

Speaking at an event commemorating one year of the hospital's official opening, Mr Ong said that for the longest time, the Government was worried about the situation at KTPH in Yishun.

It was the sole public hospital serving most of northern Singapore after it opened in 2010.

He said: "(KTPH's) accident and emergency is so crowded. Waiting times are long... With the opening of Woodlands Health, the situation has really calmed down."

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that bed occupancy rates at KTPH have fallen since WH opened its doors in May 2024.

In 2024, bed occupancy at KTPH was often at 100 per cent. Based on data as at July, the figure has crossed 80 per cent only once so far in 2025.

Mr Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, added that the care WH provides is prompt and "immaculate".

The 7.7ha facility - Singapore's ninth public general hospital - is also a very important piece of health infrastructure on a national level, Mr Ong noted.

It "bridges" the next phase of development, including the redevelopment of Alexandra Hospital and two more general hospitals in the pipeline in Tengah and Bedok, he said.

"Woodlands, in many ways, set the standards for hospitals of the future," he added.