General Hospital to open in Woodlands in 2022

An integrated 1,800-bed health-care complex will open in Woodlands in phases from 2022.

It will include an acute care hospital, community hospital and nursing home.

The complex will be built on a 7.7ha site along Woodlands Avenue 12 and Woodlands Drive 17, near Christ Church Secondary School. It will be within walking distance of the future Woodlands South MRT Station.

Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said at a community event yesterday that the management of Alexandra Health System has been given the task of planning the Woodlands General Hospital.

He called it an "exciting development" and challenged the planning team to look 20 to 30 years ahead to plan for the future health-care needs of Singaporeans. He proposed that the team look at Japan and the Scandinavian countries which are experienced in providing care for the elderly.

"I expect the facilities to deliver good quality health-care efficiently, but I would also like the campus to be very open and welcoming, full of life, health promoting and fully connected to surrounding residents," The Straits Times quoted Mr Khaw as saying at the event, which was organised by Sembawang GRC at Woodlands Civic Centre.

The hospital will be located in Sembawang GRC, for which Mr Khaw is a Member of Parliament.

The new general hospital is one of four announced last year to be built between 2020 and 2030.

In the nearer term, the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong will open by the end of this year. Another hospital, in Sengkang, is expected to be ready by 2018. Both will house acute care as well as community hospitals.