【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.

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.

用健康美食 填满圣诞餐盘 (Fill your Christmas plate with healthy food)

Ms Bernice Tan, Dietitian, National University Polyclinics, shared tips on healthy eating during the festive season.

仁心护士义工 (Kind-hearted nurse volunteer)

​One of the 2020 Healthcare Humanity Awardees is Ms Chee Wan Lin, Senior Staff Nurse, Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, who actively volunteers outside of work. She shared about her volunteer work and what motivates her to continue volunteering.

More polyclinics to have telehealth programme for hypertension patients

A telehealth programme for patients with high blood pressure (BP) is being rolled out by all three polyclinic clusters, enabling patients to monitor their BP at home with the aid of a Bluetooth-enabled device that automatically transmits the readings to a polyclinic care team. The programme will particularly benefit patients who have poorly controlled BP levels, busy lifestyles, or are less ambulant.

For NUP, the home BP monitoring programme will first be rolled out at Clementi Polyclinic in the first half of 2021.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 November 2020
  
• Channel 8 (News at 10), 3 November 2020
• Capital (958FM) 3 November 2020
  

Stress less, eat right

More people in Singapore are overeating or binge eating to cope with increased stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Dr Cheah Ming Hann, Family Physician (Jurong Polyclinic), noted that some patients are having a more difficult time controlling their diet as they lead a sedentary lifestyle during this period.
 
Ms Toh Hui Moon, Senior Clinical Psychologist (National University Polyclinics), explained that an individual’s survival mechanism known as the fight-or-flight response is triggered under stressful situations, and if prolonged, results in an increase in cortisol which increases our appetite.
 
Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian (National University Polyclinics) advised individuals to practice mindful eating by being aware of the types of food consumed as well as how the food is prepared.

More in Singapore seek help for mental health issues amid COVID-19 pandemic

​While the number of help-seekers for mental health issues was up at public hospitals such as Alexandra Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, polyclinics under SingHealth Polyclinics and National University Polyclinics saw no significant increase in help-seekers.

Dr Benjamin Cheah from Jurong Polyclinic said that safe distancing measures could have led to people seeking help from helplines such as the National Care Hotline instead. He added that NUP's psychologists conducted teleconsultations whenever possible.   

通过日常认知活动 预防失智症 （Managing Dementia）

Dr Hou Minsheng, Family Physician, Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic handed out tips on living with and caring for persons with Dementia.  These activities as a whole have been shown to have positive effects on cognition (which pertains to how we understand information, remember things, communicate, or make decisions etc.). There is some evidence to show that these may reduce the chance of developing dementia, although more studies are still needed.
 
Other cognitive activities include learning a new skill (such as a new musical instrument, a new language or a new sport suitable for your level of fitness), stimulating your mind by reading, playing board games or Sudoku.
 
Evidence suggests that it is also important to reduce our cardiovascular risk with physical activity, healthy eating habits (e.g. following My Healthy Plate concept designed by Health Promotion Board), not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, and keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in check.

提防饮食减压 (Watch out for stress eating)

Medical experts from the National University Polyclinics (NUP) shared how the increase in pressure to live and adapt in a Covid-19 world may bring about stress eating.
 
Ms Toh Hui Moon, Senior Psychologist (NUP) commented that in high-pressure situations, the fight-or-flight response is an instinctive response to keep an individual safe, which may lead to some turning to overeating habits.
 
Dr Cheah Ming Hann, Family Physician from Jurong Polyclinic (NUP) shared that some patients have had a more difficult time with diet control during this period and emphasised the importance of maintain good dietary habits.
 
Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian (NUP) shared some tips with readers on how to avoid stress eating, such as being mindful through using a hunger score and avoiding having food in sight when working.

Feeling lightheaded should not be taken lightly – a sign of underlying health issue

Dr Chan Po Fun (Consultant, Cardiology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital) provided expert comments in this collaborative piece on vertigo. She said that vertigo could point to different things for each person, such as a lack of sleep or serious conditions related to the heart or brain.

Still dedicated to changing lives, even after all these years

​61-year-old Nurse Manager Ms Letchimi Muthusamy said that the role of a nurse has greatly evolved since she started in 1977. Now, as the nurse lead for the Women’s Health Service Community Practice under NUP, Letchimi works to increase the uptake of pap smear and HPV tests, as well as chronic disease screening. She is honoured to receive this year’s Nurses’ Merit Award and wants to keep going, keen to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of nurses.

如何准备烹煮三文鱼？(How should you prepare salmon?)

​Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian of the National University Polyclinics, shared tips on how to properly store, handle and cook salmon. She reminded readers not to refreeze food that has been thawed and ensure that the middle portion of the fish is cooked.

如何处理冷冻食物? (How should you handle frozen food?)

​Dr Louisa Sun, Associate Consultant of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Programme at Alexandra Hospital and Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian of the National University Polyclinics commented on the importance on handling frozen food properly to avoid bacterial infection. Among the tips shared with readers were avoiding refreezing defrosted food and using an ice pack or cooler bag if the trip from the supermarket to home takes longer than 30 minutes.

每场流行病的挑战不一样 (Every epidemic has different challenges)

Ms Goh Ee Hoon, Senior Staff Nurse from Jurong Polyclinic shared that every epidemic has its unique challenges, and highlighted the need to adapt quickly to changes and stay united.

She was on the frontlines during SARS 17 years ago, and is now on the frontlines battling COVID-19. She added that that table top exercises conducted after SARS played a big role in preparing healthcare workers for the current pandemic. 

“We prioritise the welfare of a patient”: A doctor shares her experience in treating foreign workers

Dr Selvamani D/O Balasubramaniam, Resident Physician, Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, National University Polyclinics shares her experience in treating foreign workers.
 
She shares that the foreign workers were initially anxious about the Covid-19 outbreak but have since gaining a better understanding about the virus after efforts were made to explain it in their native languages.
 
While it is uncertain how long the Covid-19 situation will last, she adds that the welfare of patients remain the priority for healthcare workers.