16-05-2025
Singapore hospitals warn of long emergency waits, urge non-urgent cases to visit GPs or clinics
Three major public hospitals in Singapore have issued advisories alerting patients to expect longer waiting times at emergency departments due to an increase in patient load.
On 14 May 2025, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) published a notice on its website, while Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) used Facebook to communicate the situation.
TTSH informed patients that if hospital admission is required, the waiting time could span several hours. It assured the public that emergency care would continue during this period.
SKH noted that patient priority would be determined by condition severity.
Those with non-critical needs were advised to consult general practitioners, polyclinics, or Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs).
CGH echoed this guidance, encouraging patients with symptoms such as sore throats or runny noses to avoid emergency departments unless absolutely necessary.
The hospital added that reducing non-critical visits would help staff focus on urgent cases.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Communicable Diseases Agency have reported a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
Between 27 April and 3 May, cases rose to an estimated 14,200, up from 11,100 the week prior.
While the rise in infections may be straining resources, the authorities confirmed that hospitals remain capable of handling the current patient load.
