As a parent, taking your child to the emergency room is one of the most stressful experiences you can endure. Luckily for us, we live in a city with exceptional access to healthcare, 24/7...
It’s something every parent can relate to. A middle-of-the-night fever, a seemingly innocent bounce on a trampoline, a fall on slippery pool tiles, an awkward jump off the sofa – and so you’re off to the emergency room to seek professional treatment. But which emergency room is best for kids? The closest to home, or the one with a reputation for great paediatric care? The least pricey, or perhaps the hospital with the shortest waiting time?
The good news is, Singapore is renowned for its outstanding hospitals, so you’ll be taken care of wherever you are. But to help you make the best and fastest decision for your family, we’ve put together a handy list of which emergency room you should choose, based on what medical care you require and where you live.
The best emergency rooms and hospitals for kids in Singapore
1. Gleneagles Hospital
Best if you’re in the central or west regions
Conveniently located beside the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gleneagles Accident & Emergency provides 24/7 healthcare for those living in the Central and West regions of Singapore. It’s easily accessed via Holland Road, Bukit Timah or Grange Road. Gleneagles prides itself on an average waiting time of just 30 minutes. That’s half an hour from when you register to when you see a doctor.
When you set foot in Gleneagles A&E, your child will have swift access to multi-disciplinary specialist care. That means they’ll get exactly the care they need at a critical time, including a dedicated paediatric care team, neonatal intensive care specialists and paediatricians with a variety of sub-specialties. Think heart and lung to digestive issues, plus a highly trained nursing team with loads of paediatric care experience (essential to help with a speedy recovery!).
Gleneagles Hospital, 6A Napier Road, Singapore, 258500, ph: 6470 5688
2. Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Best if you’re in the central region
Located in the heart of Orchard is Mount Elizabeth Hospital. If you live in the Central region or need to visit A&E while around the Orchard area, this is your go-to hospital and it’s open 24/7. You can also expect an average waiting time of 30 minutes, from registration to when your child sees a doctor.
Your child will be cared for in world-leading facilities, including a paediatric ward. Mount Elizabeth Hospital specialises in complex paediatric cases, including neurology, surgical and oncology. Kids are given the best possible experience, with skilled nurses providing each patient with the professional care they deserve. Nurses are also trained to help their young patients through potentially challenging times. They’ll often play games with the kids, distract them with toys or make balloon sculptures.
Mount Elizabeth Hospital, 3 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore, 228510, ph:6731 2218
3. Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Best if you’re in the central, north or north east regions
Located close to Thomson Road, Balestier Road and Moulmein Road, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is perfect for families based in the Central, North or North East regions of Singapore. The 24-hour walk-in clinic and A&E department boast the same 30 minute average wait time as its Orchard counterpart.
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is impressive in its facilities and fit-out. From a dedicated paediatric observation room in the A&E department, to paediatric wards designed to make kiddos feel comfortable. The hospital is colourful with a great toy selection and spacious single rooms. You’ll also know you’re getting the best care for your child, with qualified paediatric doctors and a specialisation in ENT and respiratory cases, like tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies and HFMD.
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, 38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore, 329563, ph: 6933 0100
4. Parkway East Hospital
Best if you’re in the east region
For an unrivalled A&E experience in Singapore’s east, head to Parkway East Hospital. With specialist care for newborn babies and infants all the way through to adolescents, you’ll have access to high quality care, from medical, to surgical and rehabilitative. You can expect to see a doctor in an average time of 30 minutes from registration. Nestled in the heart of Joo Chiat, Parkway East Hospital is easily accessible via car or public transport links.
Parkway East Hospital’s 24-hour A&E walk-in clinic provides immediate, personalised medical attention, so families in the east are never far from the care they need, whatever the time of day, whatever the medical issue.
Parkway East Hospital, 321 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore, 427990, ph: 6340 8666
5. KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Best if you’re in the central, north or north east regions
The Children’s Emergency department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital is known across the island for its dedication to paediatric emergency care. If you’re located in Bukit Timah, or anywhere with good access to the CTE, this SingHealth hospital is ideal. KKH doctors and nurses are trained in paediatric emergency medicine – from initial evaluation, stabilisation through to treatment by sub-specialist paediatricians. The kids are in very safe hands here.
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, ph: 6394 1177
6. Changi General Hospital
Best if you’re in the east region
Changi General Hospital operates 24-hours and provides treatment for trauma, non-trauma, surgical and medical emergencies. It has a multi-disciplinary team who can provide holistic care for patients – from surgeons, to psychiatrists, social workers and pharmacists. The A&E department operates on a priority system – the sickest patients will be seen to first, so visitors are advised that there may be longer waits for non-emergencies.
Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore, 529889, ph: 6850 1680
7. Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Best if you’re in the central or north east regions
Tan Tock Seng Hospital is centrally located between Thomson, Irrawaddy and Moulmein Roads. The hospital itself states, “TTSH actively challenges itself to provide faster, better, cheaper and safer care for patients by investing in its staff, facilities, medical technology and system improvements”. So if you’re in need of emergency care for your child, but are conscious of potential costs, this hospital may be an option for you. TTSH provides outstanding medical care and is one of the oldest hospitals in Singapore. They also have a pretty cool live feed on their Emergency Department page, which indicates number of patients awaiting consultation and the current longest waiting time.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, ph: 6357 8866
8. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Best if you’re in the north region
Families living in the north of Singapore, in areas like Woodlands, Mandai, Sembawang, Simpang and Yishun can head to Khoo Teck Puat Hopital for immediate A&E care. KTPH’s team of highly qualified doctors operate 24 hours a day and see all patients on a prioritised basis. Peak periods for this busy hospital are 10am to 3pm and 8pm until 11pm daily, so you should expect extended waiting periods during these hours. The hospital has a nifty Queue Viewer so you can gauge traffic levels within the A&E department.
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 90 Yishun Central, Singapore, 768828, ph: 6602 2574
9. National University Hospital
Best if you’re in the west region
In its own separate facility, next to the adult emergency department, National University Hospital‘s Children’s Emergency Service is perfect for families living in Singapore’s west. Your child is in very capable hands here, with A&E doctors working closely with consultants of various paediatric sub-specialties. NUH Children’s Emergency Service doctors, nurses and support staff are specially trained to work with children too, so the kids are made to feel as comfy as possible. And the facilities are child-friendly too, with warm, colourful interiors, games and interactive devices.
National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, ph: 6772 2555
10. Singapore General Hospital
Best if you’re in the south region, but has limited facilities to treat patients under 12 years
Singapore General Hospital does indeed have an outstanding A&E department, but it should be noted that they do not have the facilities to treat patients under 12 years of age. In emergency situations, the doctors at SGH would stabilise a young patient before transferring them to KKH, where specialist paediatricians are located.
Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, 169608, ph: 6321 4311
And if you need an ambulance in Singapore…
Dial 995 for a government ambulance. You will be taken to the nearest public hospital and can then opt to be transferred to the hospital of your choosing.
If you would prefer to go to a private hospital for more expedited specialist care, call the A&E department of your chosen hospital and request an ambulance. Do note that private ambulances may drive at the same speed as general traffic and may not use their sirens. If at all possible, it can sometimes be quicker to drive or catch a taxi…
Stay safe out there, folks!
