SGH Emergency Department Relocation & Walkabout

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) marked a significant milestone in its modernization efforts on January 18, relocating its emergency department to a new, larger facility. What began as a symbolic walk for a small group of staff unexpectedly swelled into a procession of over 150, signaling a moment of collective pride and anticipation.

A New Chapter for Emergency Care

The move to the SGH Emergency/National Neuroscience Institute building at 1 Hospital Boulevard represents a major step in the hospital’s 20-year masterplan to upgrade infrastructure and meet evolving healthcare demands.

The relocation began with a phased approach in December 2024.
The new emergency department boasts expanded capacity, with 10 triage rooms and 12 resuscitation rooms.
The move was initially planned for 2023 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
SGH’s emergency services have evolved from a “Casualty and Outpatient Service” in 1948 to a 24-hour unit by 1964.

What challenges did SGH face during the emergency department relocation? The biggest hurdle, according to Associate Professor Kenneth Tan Boon Kiat, head of the ED, was navigating the hospital’s split campus layout and ensuring patients and visitors could easily access the new facility, which has a different vehicular access point than the main building.

The original plan called for a small group—eight nurses, a nurse manager, and Professor Tan—to walk from the old department at Block 1 to the new building at 6:48 a.m. on January 18. However, as word spread, more and more staff members joined in, transforming the walk into an impromptu demonstration of solidarity. The department officially began operations in the new location at 7:00 a.m.

SGH staff carrying the old “emergency” sign to the new premises on Jan 18.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the new building took place on April 3, 2018, with an initial completion target of 2023. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, caused delays, pushing back the opening date.

A Legacy of Emergency Care

SGH’s commitment to emergency medicine dates back to 1821, when it began as a small wooden shed for British troops. Formal emergency services started as a “Casualty and Outpatient Service” in 1948, evolving into Singapore’s first 24-hour emergency unit by 1964. The department moved to Block 1 in 1977, serving a younger population and becoming a cornerstone of the hospital’s services.

Professor Tan emphasized the complexity of relocating an emergency department, describing it as “like trying to change the tyres on a moving car.” The phased relocation, which began in December 2024, required the team to operate from the old location while simultaneously preparing the new one.

The first ambulance arriving at the new emergency department at 8.31am on Jan 18.

Senior hospital leaders, including SGH’s chief executive, Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon, medical board chairman, Associate Professor Loo Chian Min, and chief nurse Ng Gaik Nai, were present to witness the transition and express their gratitude to the staff.

Nurse clinician Nur Aisah Sulaiman reflected on the camaraderie forged during the Covid-19 pandemic at the old ED, where staff from various departments collaborated to manage the surge in patients. She arrived at work early on January 18 to celebrate the move with her colleagues and noted the hospital had increased its nursing staff over the past year to prepare for the larger facility.

Associate Professor Kenneth Tan Boon Kiat speaking to staff at the new emergency department on Jan 18.

The new ED, slated for official opening by June, significantly expands capacity. It features 10 triage rooms (compared to four previously) and 12 resuscitation rooms, up from six. The critical care area can now accommodate 53 patients, while the observation area has 55 beds, a substantial increase from the old ED’s capacity of 15 and 37, respectively.