Last updated on 30 April 2021
When to go to the A&E?
The A&E department (also known as accident & emergency) deals with various health emergencies, such as:
- Chest pain or heart attacks
- Sudden and severe shortness of breath
- Blurred vision
- Severe burns
- Significant head injuries
- Choking
- Excessive bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- High fever in babies
- Loss of consciousness
- Broken bones
- Large open wounds and burns
- Concussions
- Seizures or fits
- Persistent vomiting and diarrhoea
Preparing for an emergency:
You should have the following emergency information ready:
- Address to the nearest hospital
- The quickest route to get there
- Ambulance / fire emergency number
- Police emergency number
- Any known medical conditions in the family
- Health insurance information
How to find your nearest A&E
In a medical emergency, you can call 995 for a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulance, which will bring you to the nearest Ministry of Health-designated A&E.
If you’d like to visit the A&E at a hospital of your choice, you may contact the hospital directly on their respective helplines.
Do keep in mind that not all hospitals have an A&E or 24-hour medical and ambulance services.
How to get to the A&E
If you arrive by ambulance
Arriving at the A&E by ambulance has several advantages. Depending on your condition, you may receive pre-hospital emergency medical treatment in the ambulance itself. Paramedics in the ambulance can also assess your condition and inform the hospital prior to your arrival so that the team at the hospital is prepared.
If you are driving to the A&E
If you are a walk-in patient at the A&E and have a critical condition, you will be attended to immediately.
During a medical emergency in Singapore, you can also call +65 6473 2222 for an ambulance that will transport you to the nearest hospital or a hospital of your choice. Learn more about Parkway Emergency services.
Article reviewed by Dr Othello Dave, deputy medical director at Parkway Hospitals
Reference
Chang, L. (n.d.) 5 Emergencies: Do You Know What To Do? Retrieved January 30, 2019 from https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/5-emergencies-do-you-know-what-to-do#4
Important phone numbers to know in Singapore (2018, April 26) Retrieved January 30, 2019 from https://expatliving.sg/important-phone-numbers-singapore/
Long waits at A&E despite more beds (2017, April 7) Retrieved January 30, 2019 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/long-waits-at-aes-despite-more-beds
Steinbaum, S. (2018, March 18) Do You Know The Symptoms of a Heart Attack and Stroke? Retrieved January 30, 2019 from https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/spot-a-stroke-heart-attack_
When To Call 911: Serious Symptoms You Should Never Ignore. Retrieved Jan 30, 2019 from https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-when-call-911
When Can I Call an SCDF Ambulance? (2015, July 21) Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.gov.sg/article/when-can-i-call-an-scdf-ambulance
SCDF Emergency Medical Services. (n.d.) Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/about-us/information/scdf-emergency-medical-services