Medical Emergencies: List of 24-hour Clinics vs A&E in Singapore
My first brush with a midnight medical emergency was at 13 years old. I woke up with difficulty breathing and felt a choking pain in my throat.
The G.P. (General Practitioner) my family has been seeing for years does not operate round the clock, and this brought us to our nearest A&E at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Source: Today Online
Lucky for me, I survived the ordeal, even though I still do not have a thorough explanation of what exactly happened except that my bronchioles “froze”.
I remember going to school the subsequent weeks boasting about how my bronchioles froze as a result of ice cream that I had just hours before.
Emergencies like these are unprecedented and hence everyone should be mentally prepared. Here’s a list of 24-hour clinics to tend to all your healthcare needs regardless of day or time.
| Location | Address | Enquiries | Consultation Fees (after midnight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | |||
| Thomson 24-Hour Family Clinic (A&E + 24-hr family clinic) | 339 Thomson Road, Singapore 307677 | 6250 2222 | From $98 |
| Unihealth 24hr Clinic | #01-218, 178 Toa Payoh Central, 310178 | 6203 1639 | From $80 |
| North-East | |||
| Central 24-HR Clinic Group | 681 Hougang Ave 8, #01-831, Singapore 530681 | 6387 6965 | From $110 |
| North | |||
| Central Clinic and Surgery (Yishun) | Block 701A Yishun Avenue 5, #01-04 Singapore 761701 | 6759 7985 | From $110 |
| North-West | |||
| Prohealth 24-Hour Medical Clinic | Block 259 Bukit Panjang Ring Road, #01-18 Singapore 671259 | 6765 2115 | Weekdays $82-86 Weekends $86-92 |
| West | |||
| Central Clinic and Surgery (Clementi) | Block 450 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-291 Singapore 120450 | 6773 2925 | From $110 |
| East | |||
| Central Clinic and Surgery (Bedok) | Block 219 Bedok Central, #01-124 Singapore 460219 | 6247 6122 | From $110 |
| Central Tampines 24-Hr Family Clinic | Block 201D Tampines Street 21 #01-1151 | 6786 7228 | From $130 |
| Changi Airport Raffles Medical Airport 24-hr Clinic | 65 Airport Boulevard, Changi Airport Terminal 3 #B2-MS-15 Singapore 819663 | 6241 8818 | From $100 |
Fees and Charges:
Most 24-hr clinics listed above have consultation fee starting from under $100.
If you’re headed to the A&E department, be prepared to shell out more than $100 just for them to attend to you. Further consultation fees are a separate charge and varies depending on your needs and subsidies.
| A&E: Emergency Department Attendance Fees | |
|---|---|
| Doctor's consultation, Nursing care & treatment Basic Investigation (eg. urine test, blood sugar test, ECG) Basic treatment (eg. plaster cast, simple suturing & wound dressing) Standard medication (max. one week's supply upon discharge) | S$121.00 |
Source: Singapore General Hospital
Waiting Time:
Knowing what needs to be treated at the A&E can save money and time.
This helps to shorten queues, letting real emergencies seek attention quickly.
Some A&Es have a “3-hour waiting time” sign displayed at the entrance. 24hour clinics, on the other hand, may be able to tend to your less severe conditions with less queue.
Midnight Medical Emergencies: 24hr Clinic or A&E?
People often struggle to decide if they should head to the nearest 24hr clinic or to an A&E. This could be due to a few reasons: Insurance coverage, cost, convenience etc.
According to Singhealth and a poll, a regular middle-aged adult who is not pregnant and does not have prevailing conditions should approach it as such:
24hr Clinic:
- Sprained or twisted ankles
- Fever
- Nosebleed
- Cuts/gash
- Dizziness
- Cold/flu
- Headaches
- Nosebleed
- Sore Eyes
Hospital A&E:
- Elderly’s injuries (requires more immediate attention)
- Broken limbs
- Sustained several days of high temperature
- Breathlessness for prolonged period
- Sudden and severe pain
- Sweating and breathlessness
- Fits and Seizures
- Vomiting that does not subside
- Blood in your vomit
- Slurred Speech
- Severe hives
Of course, depending on age, elderly and pregnant ladies should seek more immediate attention for such symptoms.
And in times of non-emergencies, it is also helpful to know which hospitals to turn to for more severe conditions like stroke, heart failure, diabetes and chemotherapy, amongst others.
Source: Singaporean’s Guide To Cost Of Hospitalisation Treatment
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