995 calls to go to medical triage helpline for non-life-threatening cases from June 1 under trial

Straits Times

2 days ago

The triage helpline, known as NurseFirst, will be manned by trained nurses who will advise callers on their symptoms and guide them to the appropriate treatment option. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
995 calls to go to medical triage helpline for non-life-threatening cases from June 1 under trial
SINGAPORE - From June 1, callers using the emergency 995 hotline for non-life threatening conditions will be transferred to a medical triage helpline under a 6-month trial.
The triage helpline, known as NurseFirst, will be manned by trained nurses who will advise callers on their symptoms and guide them to the appropriate treatment option, said the Health and Home Affairs ministries in a joint statement on May 30.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Woodlands Health will pilot the trial, which is aimed at helping the SCDF prioritise timely responses to critical emergencies and public hospital emergency departments to focus resources on patients in need of urgent care.
Similar helplines are already in use in countries like Britain, Japan, Denmark and Finland.
SCDF has had to grapple with the rapid rise in demand for its emergency medical services over the last few years, the statement said.
In 2024, it responded to over 245,000 995 calls, averaging 672 a day - a 57 per cent increase from 2014.
The partnership with NurseFirst's helpline will help trim the dispatch of ambulances for non-emergency cases, enabling SCDF and hospital resources to focus on life-threatening cases like cardiac arrest or breathing difficulties, the statement added.
NurseFirst helpline, operated by Woodlands Health, launched as a pilot in northern Singapore in 2022, with funding from MOH.
From June, its services will be expanded to serve callers islandwide from 8am to 11pm daily.
Trained nurses with medical oversight from emergency physicians will assess callers' symptoms and direct them to alternative care options in case of non-life threatening conditions, like a general practitioner.
An SCDF officer will share key patient details with the nurse on the helpline before transferring calls.
Beyond NurseFirst's operating hours, the usual SCDF protocols will apply, even in non-emergency situations, the statement said.
Non-life threatening conditions include headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, and strains and sprains.
The public is also encouraged to call the NurseFirst helpline directly at 62626262 when not in a medical emergency, for timely medical advice at no cost.
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