Caring for the Underprivileged
Supporting dialysis care
November 2020
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) opened a new dialysis centre on 23 November 2020 with a $2 million donation from Keppel Corporation, through its philanthropic arm, Keppel Care Foundation. The dialysis centre is the first in Singapore to be integrated within a hospital compound, being strategically co-located within Yishun Community Hospital (YCH) and adjacent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH). It is also the first of NKF’s centres to offer fully integrated and seamless dialysis care for both haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.
Equipped with 22 dialysis stations which can benefit up to 132 HD patients, this centre also has a designated space to provide peritoneal dialysis services to serve a wider group of patients compared to other NKF centres. Offering both treatment services under one roof will enable NKF to meet the ever evolving and diverse care needs of patients.
Mr Tim Oei, Chief Executive Officer of NKF said, “This centre is made possible with a generous donation of $2 million from Keppel Care Foundation. We are very grateful for the strong support of the Keppel Group, without which this centre would not have been possible.
“There are many unique features about this centre. Firstly, this is our first centre co-located within both acute and community hospitals, namely KTPH and YCH. This strategic co-location and partnership enables timely and seamless transfer of patients from one setting to another to facilitate ease of access to care and services. Patients do not need to travel to other centres for dialysis. Patients discharged from KTPH who require rehabilitation can have their dialysis at the centre in YCH, under the same roof. Patients will benefit from the seamless continuity of care through connected networks of healthcare teams, information flow and treatment care plans.”
“Secondly, this is the first NKF centre offering both HD and PD services under one roof. Unlike the other centres of NKF which only cater for HD patients, this centre provides comprehensive services to support patients who choose PD as their preferred modality of treatment,” said Mr Oei.
Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation, said, “Keppel is committed to uplift lives and care for the underprivileged. Our support of the NKF Dialysis Centre at Yishun Community Hospital will enhance the accessibility of integrated healthcare for dialysis patients and improve their quality of life.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on society, especially vulnerable members of the community, including dialysis patients. Through this partnership, Keppel hopes to support NKF in ensuring that its patients are able to receive safe and convenient dialysis treatment.”
PD services will be rolled out in phases, such as PD training, which includes catheter flushing, adaptation, home visits, medication administration and exit site care. This will be a shared care model with both hospital and NKF-based nephrologists, nurses, medical social workers, dietitians and allied healthcare professionals. Other services including troubleshooting of PD catheter flow issues, PD treatment, home support, clinic review, counselling, respite care and visits by PD nurses are made readily available throughout a patient’s treatment journey.
The tripartite collaboration between NKF, YCH and KTPH is an effort to integrate traditionally siloed aspects of healthcare and provide a solution to minimise fragmented care and reduce patient delay in seeking treatment. This in turn leads to better patient convenience, compliance and outcomes.
Beyond Keppel’s financial support, Keppel’s staff volunteers have also been actively involved with NKF since 2017, with more than 160 volunteers engaging patients in befriending sessions and delivering ‘joy bundles’ containing food provisions, care items and necessities. Together, their efforts have touched the lives of close to 600 NKF patients to date.