Can you locate your nearest 24-hour clinic or after-hours family doctor? Keep this list of 24-hour GPs handy!
On my first Mother’s Day as a new mum, I waited five hours in a children’s emergency ward rather than one of the many 24-hour family clinics we have here in Singapore. My almost one-year-old son wasn’t in an emergency situation. My son had nicked the tip of his finger on a shard of broken glass, but there was a lot of blood. We’re talking crime scene amounts of blood, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop. Of course, I panicked.
I was home alone, my husband was overseas, my helper was away, and my support group of mums were all out to Mother’s Day lunch. I had no idea where to go in what felt like an urgent, but not an emergency situation. So we ended up spending the whole day in the emergency ward.
The point here is, you don’t need to go to a hospital emergency ward (ER) in situations that are not an emergency. You can save time and make room for those in real emergencies. Instead, choose a 24-hour family clinic or after-hours doctor for any non-urgent situation. Learn from my mistakes (there are many!).
24-hour clinics and family GPs in Singapore
Here’s what you need to know
- Babies and toddlers bleed a lot, especially from the head and the hands, even from the smallest nick or cut.
- You’ll need the baby’s passport, birth certificate or ID, and a credit card when you get to the hospital or clinic.
- When you panic, you can’t think straight. Have an action plan on the fridge.
- KKH is the largest women and children’s hospital on the island. Its emergency service is excellent, but the average wait stated is *four hours* – even longer if you’re triaged and your case isn’t as urgent as others. So know your alternatives!
24-hour family clinics in central
Thompson Medical Centre (as well as emergency, there’s a 24-hour family clinic)
339 Thomson Road, Singapore 307677
Tel: 6250 2222
www.thomsonmedical.com
Mount Elizabeth Novena (A&E and a 24-hour on-call paediatrician)
38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563
Tel: 6898 6898
www.mountelizabeth.com.sg
Unihealth 24-Hour Clinic Group (Toa Payoh)
178 Toa Payoh Central, #01-218, Singapore 310178
Tel: 6203 1639
www.unihealthclinic.sg
24-hour family clinics in the northeast
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Hougang)
Block 681 Hougang Avenue 8, #01-831, Singapore 530681
Tel: 6387 6965
www.centralclinic.com.sg
24-hour family clinics in the north
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Yishun)
Block 701A Yishun Avenue 5, #01-04, Singapore 761701
Tel: 6759 7985
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Woodlands)
Block 768 Woodlands Avenue 6, Woodlands Mart, #02-06A, Singapore 730768
Tel: 6365 4895
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Marsiling)
Block 303 Woodlands Street 31, #01-185, Singapore 730303
Tel: 6365 2908
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Intemedical 24 Hour Clinic (Ang Mo Kio)
525 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-2407, Singapore 560525
Tel: 6919 2998
www.intemedical.sg
24-hour family clinics in the northwest
Prohealth 24-Hour Medical Clinic
Block 259 Bukit Panjang Ring Road, #01-18, Singapore 671259
Tel: 6765 2115
www.prohealth.com.sg
24-hour family clinics in the west
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Clementi)
Block 450 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-291, Singapore 120450
Tel: 6773 2925
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Jurong West)
Block 492 Jurong West Street 41, #01-54, Singapore 640492
Tel: 6565 7484
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Pioneer North)
Block 959 Jurong West Street 92, #01-160, Singapore 640959
Tel: 6251 2775
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Unihealth 24-Hour Clinic Group (Jurong East)
135 Jurong Gateway Road, #01-317, Singapore 600135
Tel: 6970 5868
www.unihealthclinic.sg
24-hour family clinics in the east
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Bedok)
Block 219 Bedok Central, #01-124, Singapore 460219
Tel: 6247 6122
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Tampines)
Block 201D Tampines Street 21, #01-1151, Singapore 524201
Tel: 6786 7228
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Central 24-HR Clinic Group (Pasir Ris)
Block 446 Pasir Ris Drive 6, #01-122, Singapore 510446
Tel: 6582 2640
www.centralclinic.com.sg
Raffles Medical Airport 24-Hour Clinic
Changi Airport Terminal 3, 65 Airport Boulevard, #B2-01, Singapore 819663
Tel: 6241 8818
www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com
Here’s what I’ve learnt…
- When babies bleed, you cannot think straight. You need an action plan.
- Find a local doctor who’s open on a Sunday and write their details on the plan.
- Thompson Medical Centre is a centrally located hospital with a 24-hour family service for things that are urgent but not an emergency and will generally attend to you within an hour. Write it on your plan!
- Doing a first aid course covering minor injuries, not just life-threatening situations, is a good idea.
- Having a well organised first aid box is critical when you can’t think straight.
- You’ll need your child’s passport and/or birth certificate with you – know where they are at all times.
- Discuss your plan with your helper, and prepare a secure pack with a photocopy of your passports, credit card details, and some taxi money.
Note: In an emergency situation, go to your nearest hospital, or call an ambulance on (+65) 995.
