Most patients in EDs do not require hospitalisation: SG MOH

It advised the public to go to the ED only for life-threatening emergencies.

Hospital emergency departments are currently seeing a high number of patients resulting in long queues and waiting times, the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) said on 6 February.

MOH advised the public to seek medical treatment at a hospital's emergency department only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, breathlessness, and uncontrollable bleeding. It added that most of the patients did not require emergency care, and unnecessary visits to the emergency department risk compromising the standard of care for other patients who genuinely require emergency medical attention.

Should individuals require COVID-19 testing or review for symptoms of acute respiratory infection, they can visit Public Health Preparedness Clinics for further assessment. More than 700 clinics are open after office hours on selected days.