A new programme has been set up to prepare health-care professionals and members of the community to better care for the sick.
The scheme, funded by a $52 million donation from the late tycoon Ng Teng Fong's family to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, was announced by President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterdayat the hospital's 170th Founder's Day dinner.
The dinner at the Raffles City Convention Centre was attended by about 950 guests, including Mrs Dorothy Chan, Mr Ng's daughter.
The Ng Teng Fong Healthcare Innovation Programme aims to raise the standard of patient care both in and out of the hospital, said Dr Tan.
It will pay for grants and scholarships to train health- care professionals, as well as volunteers, caregivers and members of patient support groups.
The programme will also support the development of healthcare innovations to boost efficiency and safety in caregiving.
"(The fund) will go a long way in supporting training and innovation across various hospitals and institutions to bring about better health-care delivery," said Dr Tan.
Associate Professor Chin Jing Jih, co-chairman of the Ng Teng Fong Health-care Innovation Programme, said the scheme is unique because it focuses on training family members and other caregivers, such as domestic workers and volunteers.
"We find that patients who come back to the hospital after getting discharged are the ones who do not receive proper care at home," he said.
Prof Chin said there is a need to roll out more training courses in areas such as handling feeding tubes and dealing with patients with dementia.
Volunteers agreed that they and family members would benefit from better training.
Mr Michael Poh, 67, who organises exercise sessions for heart patients, said: "Volunteers should be trained to communicate better with patients. Family members should also learn about the causes of heart problems and medication."
This article was first published on Oct 8, 2014.
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