Before Khoo Teck Puat Hospital opened in 2010, the nearest government hospital for residents staying in Yishun and Sembawang was Tan Tock Seng Hospital at Jalan Tan Tock Seng. The opening of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital marked a milestone in the history of healthcare in this area.
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is managed by the healthcare cluster Alexandra Health, which moved over from Alexandra Hospital to the new premises in 2010. Alexandra Hospital continues to run under another healthcare team.
Yishun was chosen as the site for the new hospital because its location is central for residents in the north, as it is between Sengkang and Woodlands . It is also well-connected to the rest of Singapore by transport infrastructure, and the surrounding vacant land makes future expansion possible.
Situated near the Yishun Pond, the hospital is designed to be ‘green’. Landscaping throughout the hospital provides a healing environment for patients and help to reduce heat and humidity. The building also has environmentally friendly features which reduce energy usage by as much as 35.9% as compared to standard hospitals. Sunshades over windows cut down glare while re-directing the light to the ceilings to brighten up rooms. Fans in public areas are powered by solar panels.
This 550-bed hospital is also designed to be patient-friendly. For example, the distance from the drop-off point in the main lobby to the Acute and Emergency Care Centre is only approximately 30 metres.