Drinking too much?

Dr Lui Yit Shiang, Senior Consultant, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital (NUH) commented that it is important to think of addiction as a medical problem.  He shared there is scientific explanation behind "the craving, vacillating habitual behaviours, uncontrolled suffering and conflicting self-conscience to stop".

Dr Sarah Lau, Family Medicine Resident, National University Health System (NUHS) who was the lead author of the paper "Managing Unhealthy Alcohol Use in General Practice", published in the Singapore Medical Journal shared that patients often do not recognise that they have a problem.  They may not know what the recommended limits for alcohol intake are, and may not realise that they are drinking excessively.

Her co-author, Dr Sky Koh, Family Physician, National University Polyclinics (NUP), added that primary care physicians would likely see a lot of patients with alcohol disorder, but such patients often go undetected because there are no clear clinical guidelines to screen for this.

• The Straits Times Online, 7 September 2021

Perubahan dasar dialu-alu, tunjukkan masyarakat kini lebih terbuka, matang bincang isu sensitif (Policy changes are welcome, shows the community is more open and mature in discussing sensitive issues)

Dr Norhisham Main, President of the Muslim Healthcare Professionals Association and Head of Division, Supportive Care & Palliative Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), said the tudung issue has been in discussion for a while and the change is welcome as many have been waiting for it. This will give individuals the flexibility and option to decide whether to wear the tudung or not.

Ms Jancy Mathews, Chief Nurse of National University Polyclinics (NUP) and a member of the Clinical Advisory Panel, shared that the move was welcome as it was something Muslim staff in the public healthcare sector had been waiting for a long time. She believes such religious markers will not differentiate the care services provided. This is as long as there are guidelines in place that set certain conditions on how the tudung should be worn.   

Ms Rohana Ismail, NUH Branch Union Secretary of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union and Nurse Manager at National University Hospital (NUH), said the revision gives employees the freedom of choice. She expressed hope that the move would open up opportunity to more people who are keen to go into healthcare sector.

• Berita Harian, 30 August 2021

New guidelines for nurses wearing tudungs expected to provide clarity on different scenarios

Jancy Mathews, a member of the Clinical Advisory Panel and Chief Nurse, National University Polyclinics (NUP), commented that staff may not be able to wear a personal tudung in areas where higher levels of cleanliness are required. She added institutions with aggressive or challenging patients will need to perform risk assessments on the suitability of wearing one.

Dr Norhisham Main, President, Muslim Healthcare Professionals Association and Head of Division & Senior Consultant, Supportive Care & Palliative Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), elaborated that Singapore's climate is a factor to consider because of the heat and humidity in the work environment.

Nia Nasyitah Binte Zulkifli, Senior Radiographer, Radiology, NTFGH, explained that the healthcare industry pays closer attention to infection control because patients who visit hospitals may be vulnerable to infections. She added that the policy will help persuade some Muslim women to join the healthcare industry. 

A/Prof Daniel Goh, National University Health System (NUHS) Group Director of Culture & Outreach and a member of the Implementation Steering Committee, commented that overall response for this move is favourable as it allows individuals the flexibility and option to decide whether to wear the tudung or not. He said the healthcare clusters, stakeholders, unions and uniform committees have been in talks with Ministry of Health (MOH) to discuss the guidelines since April this year.

Rohana Ismail, NUH Branch Union Secretary and Nurse Manager at NUH, shared she is happy with the move as the employees are given the choice to wear a tudung if they wish. She expressed hope that the move would open up opportunity to more people who are keen to join the healthcare sector.

• The Straits Times, 31 August 2021, Muslims welcome move to allow nurses to wear tudung

• The New Paper, 31 August 2021, Muslims applaud move to allow nurses to wear the tudung

• Lianhe Zaobao, 31 August 2021, 允许回教护士工作场所戴头巾 回理会表示感激 (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore appreciative of move to allow nurses to wear the tudung at work)

• Lianhe Zaobao, 30 August 2021, 保健服务雇联会：护士诺选择戴头巾 须确保不影响工作(HSEU: If nurses choose to wear a tudung, they must ensure that they do not affect their work)

• Berita Mediacorp, 30 August 2021, Boleh bertudung: MHPA anggap ini lambang masyarakat tempatan 'terbuka dan progresif'(MHPA considers move to allow nurses to wear the tudung “open and progressive”)

正确冷冻食物 营养保质 (Correct methods of freezing food to retain nutrients)

​zbLOHAS’ cover story on how frozen food should be stored properly to retain nutritional value.

Jazlyn Lim, Dietitian, Dietetics & Nutrition, NTFGH, explained that it is recommended to consume vegetables as soon as possible because the Vitamin C content reduces over time. She emphasised that food should be cooked immediately upon thawing, as refreezing of thawed food will encourage further microbial growth. She also listed three ways of thawing food: in the fridge, in the microwave, and submerged in tap water.

Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian, NUP, commented that pre-packaged frozen food can be as nutritious as fresh food, because freezing is done when the food is harvested, and this keeps the nutrients in foods. However, she added that common frozen processed foods are high in sodium such as frozen meals, pizzas, and nuggets, and patients with chronic diseases should avoid heavily processed frozen foods because of its high sodium or fat content. The exceptions would be frozen vegetables, fruit, and low-sodium soups/broths.

Shorter wait for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine slots, experts urge residents not to wait to get shots

Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, NUH Division of Infectious Diseases commented that if more people choose to delay their vaccinations, this could hold Singapore back from meeting its target of vaccinating at least half of its residents fully by August and at least 75% by October. Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said that both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine should provide the same degree of protection against COVID-19. However, Pfizer has been linked with fewer occurrences of mild side effects such as fever and fatigue compared with Moderna.
 
A check by ChannelNewsAsia on Friday (June 18) showed that the earliest available slot for the Pfizer vaccine was on July 5 at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, according to the online appointment booking system.

【冠状病毒19】婴儿接种疫苗预约减少 医生：或增加风险 (COVID-19 – Reduction in infant vaccination appointments; doctors say this may increase children’s risk)

​With the increase in COVID-19 community cases, some parents are worried about contracting COVID-19 and are choosing to delay or cancel their children’s vaccination appointments. However, if children below two years old do not get vaccinated, they will face greater risk of getting infected with the various diseases. So far, at the National University Polyclinics, infant vaccination attendance has remained stable. 

World Family Doctor Day 2021

​To commemorate World Family Doctor Day, CNA938 put the spotlight on Dr Liow Yiyang, a family physician at Queenstown Polyclinic.

Health Matters host Daniel Martin asked Dr Liow about the important role being played by family doctors during this pandemic, how their role has changed over the past year, and how they ensure that they get the correct information across to their wide range of patients. Dr Liow also spoke about a memorable experience during the pandemic and how he and his colleagues cope with high stress and patient load.

冠病疫情 “守门人” 家庭医生迅速适应变化为病人看诊 (COVID-19 “gatekeepers” – Family doctors swiftly adapt to fast-paced changes to continue patient care)

On World Family Doctor Day today, polyclinic family doctors continue to work tirelessly as Singapore's first line of defence against the virus variants from COVID-19, swiftly adapting to fast-paced changes to continue to care for patients in the community at the primary care level while managing the long-term chronic diseases of the populace. 

8world News spoke to Dr Desmond Ong, Family Physician and Consultant at Jurong Polyclinic to understand more about the important roles family doctors and polyclinics play in the pandemic and some of the challenges he faces.

为病人诊断开药？特别的白衣天使有特别任务 (Diagnosing diseases and prescribing medicine for patients? Nurse with a special assignment)

​Senior Staff Nurse Shermin Chieng from Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic is the top graduate of Class of 2020 in the ALCNS Master of Nursing (MN) programme. She is the first practising primary care nurse across all polyclinics to top the MN cohort.

In this exclusive feature with 8world to commemorate International Nurses' Day on 12 May, Shermin shared more about the responsibilities of an Advanced Practice Nurse, especially in a primary healthcare setting.

• Mediacorp 8world Facebook, 12 May 2021

金文泰综合诊疗所2027年前迁新址 (Clementi Polyclinic to be redeveloped at new site by 2027)

​Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary announced that Clementi Polyclinic will be redeveloped at a new site by 2027. It will be more spacious and incorporate more elderly-friendly and accessibility features.

• The Straits Times, Page A9, 6 March 2021

• 8world Online,5 March 2021
  

Unsightly ‘Christmas tree’: SafeEntry stickers creating eyesores in public places

​The Straits Times carried statements from Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital, and National University Polyclinics in response to more sightings of SafeEntry stickers being pasted indiscriminately on public property around the hospital and polyclinics, and made mention of the mitigating measures implemented by these institutions.

【冠状病毒19】70岁及以上年长者 即日起开始接种 (Vaccinations begin for seniors aged 70 and above)

Singapore began its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme for seniors aged 70 and above yesterday. Vaccination sites include vaccination centres, polyclinics and Public Health Preparedness Clinics.
 
Channel 8 visited Bukit Batok Polyclinic yesterday where about 300 patients registered for vaccination appointments. Two elderly patients were interviewed about their positive vaccination experiences at the polyclinic.

3家综合诊所外 I’m OK 贴纸贴满柱子交通灯 (‘I’m OK’ stickers pasted on hand railings and traffic light poles outside 3 polyclinics)

​Members of public shared their observations of temperature screening stickers being pasted on public property outside Pioneer, Jurong, and Choa Chu Kang polyclinics.

 When queried, a spokesperson from National University Polyclinics said that from the beginning of the pandemic, the polyclinics have put up boards at the exits so that patients and caregivers can leave their stickers there before leaving the premises.

 The spokesperson also said, "We will continue to remind our patients to paste their stickers on the boards provided or to dispose of them in litter bins, and to play their part in keeping our environment clean."

ST Forum: Scanner takes temperature of patients

​In response to Ms Candice Yeo’s letter (Why no temperature-taking at polyclinic?), Dr Franco Wong, Head of Jurong Polyclinic, clarified that the temperature of all patients and caregivers is taken before they enter the polyclinic, and that the clinic uses a wall-mounted thermal scanner which is monitored by staff at the entrance.

Christy Chung and Aaron Kwok in their 50s: The truth about celeb diets and workouts

​Dr Kwan Yew Seng from Pioneer Polyclinic weighed in on exercise and diet in this article – about how older celebrities maintain their figures, and whether one can achieve the same results as they get older.