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By Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman written on 02-Sep-1999
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Changi General Hospital, a.k.a. New Changi Hospital, located at 2 Simei Street 3, serves the east and northeast segments of Singapore. It was pitched as the first purpose built regional hospital and was formed through an amalgamation of the Changi Hospital and the former Toa Payoh Hospital at Thomson Road. It was officially opened on 28 March 1998 although its history began as early as 1935.

Changi Hospital's history
The history of Changi Hospital can be traced back to 1935, when the hospital was first built off Loyang Avenue to serve as a Royal Air Force (RAF) hospital for the British Far East Air Force.

The hospital went through a series of name changes under different administrations. When it was handed over to the newly-formed Commonwealth forces of the Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom, ANZUK, it was known as the ANZUK Hospital. Upon the disbanding of ANZUK, the hospital then became the UK Military Hospital.

In August 1974, a former British Officers' club on Halton Road was converted into the Changi Chalet Hospital, at a cost of S$1.2 million. It became operational in January 1975, with 36 beds, one operating theater, an X-ray and laboratory facility and an emergency unit. Its function was to cater to the minor emergency needs of holidaymakers. The X-ray and laboratory facilities also serviced the needs of patients from Changi Prison Hospital and the polyclinics on Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin.

In December 1975, as British troops were completing their withdrawal from the region, the UK Military Hospital was handed over to the Singapore Government for a token sum of S$1. It was renamed the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Hospital and functioned to provide free medical care to SAF personnel and their families. Gradually, services, such as accident and emergency treatment, general surgery, general medicine and dental surgery, were extended to the public, for fees similar to those charged by other government hospitals.

On 1 July 1976, the SAF Hospital was handed over to the Ministry of Health to form Changi Hospital. The SAF Hospital building was re-named the Upper Block, located at Halton Road, and the Chalet Hospital, the Lower Block at Turnhouse Road.

In March 1997, a new hospital, built on a 5.2 ha site at the junction of Simei Ave and Simei St. 3, became operational. Known as New Changi Hospital, it was built to replace the Toa Payoh and Changi Hospitals, as the former was to be turned into a community hospital and the site of Changi Hospital was to be converted into recreational space.

The new Changi Hospital was officially opened on 28 Mar 1998 by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and renamed Changi General Hospital. Boasting 23 wards with 801 beds, ultra modern facilities and a staff of 200 doctors and 800 nurses, the Changi General Hospital is Singapore's first purpose-built regional hospital, serving communities in the east and northeast regions.


Toa Payoh Hospital's history
This hospital had its modest beginnings with two doctors, seven nursing staff and one commissioned ward as Thomson Road Hospital in 1959. With an increasing demand for patient care, the government proposed to build a new hospital at the same premises. This new hospital would serve the spill-over patients from the then Sepoy Lines General Hospital, later re-named Outram Road General Hospital and then Singapore General Hospital. The hospital had to grapple with limited funds and equipment during this period.

With the increased demand for healthcare in the 1960s, the Thomson Road Hospital introduced the surgical block and an X-ray department. As the initial purpose of the hospital was to serve the chronic sick, the introduction of the new facilities was a major development. In 1968, it was re-named Thomson Road General Hospital. The hospital underwent several other phases of development in the 1970s. During this period, it was re-named Toa Payoh Hospital. It continued its expansion into the next decade.

The Toa Payoh Hospital ceased its operation in February 1997. It then moved to its new Simei site.

Changi General Hospital
The new Changi Hospital was officially opened on 28 March 1998 by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and renamed Changi General Hospital. Boasting 23 wards with 801 beds, ultra modern facilities and a staff of 200 doctors and 800 nurses.

Mission
To be the hospital of choice, distinguished by quality, caring and cost-effective services.

Milestones
1935 : Royal Air Force (RAF) Hospital.
July 1976 : RAF Hospital combined with Chalet Hospital to form Changi Hospital.
Nov 1987 : Civil Defence Unit formed in Changi Hospital.
Apr 1988 : Toa Payoh Hospital was corporatised.
July 1990 : Commenced Central Claim Processing System (CCPS), an automated system to facilitate medisave/ medishield claims to CPF and medical information to Ministry of Health.
Dec 1990 : All front-line staff completed the "Public Contact Improvement Programme".
Oct 1996 : Achieved the ISO 9002 certification.
Feb 1997 : Relocation of the Toa Payoh Hospital to Simei as New Changi Hospital.



Author
Nor-Afidah Rahman & Phyllis Wee, 2002



References 
Changi Hospital. (1977). Annual Report 1976. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSEA 362.11095957 CHAR)

New Changi Hospital. (1997). Annual Report 1996. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.:  RSING 362.11095957 NCHAR)

Probert, H. A. T. (1970). The History of Changi [Mircroflim: NL11224]. Singapore: Prison Industries.
(Call no.: RSING 959.51 PRO)

Rising to the challenge: A story of commitment, determination and building on a vision. (2000). Singapore: Changi General Hospital.
(Call no.: R 362.11095957 RIS)

Farewell bird songs and barbeque smells. (1997, January 15). The Straits Times, Life!, p. 2.

From ANZUK, UK Military to plain old Changi. (1997, January 29). The Straits Times,  Life!, p. 2.

Lim, A. (1996, December 9). Thumbs up for New Changi Hospital. The Straits Times, Home, p. 37.

The big change for little Changi Hospital . (1997, January 29). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Use your regional hospital. (1998, March 29). The Straits Times.

Changi General Hospital. (2003). Our history: Overview. Retrieved January 27, 2005, from www.cgh.com.sg/about_us/about_us_middle_history.asp



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.