Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital gears up to be S'pore's first 'hospitel'

The $2-billion facility, features 333 patient beds which includes 206 premium rooms, eight junior suites, three regal suites, 40 intensive care beds, 19 endoscopy beds and a one-day ward with 20 beds. MNH is supported by specialists from over 20 multi-disciplinary with 254 medical suites in the Specialist Centre.

Last month, I had the opportunity to meet MNH's Chief Executive Officer Dr Lee Hong Huei and his medical cohorts during a recent trip.

Before commencing, Dr Lee offered the media VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phones in case anyone gets lost in the 'hospitel' (a hospital-cum-hotel) because apparently it is easy to do so considering the size.

A tour of the hospital soon followed after and I could not help but notice a few things.

The medical staff donned suits, coated with silver nano to be exact, effectively making the suit anti-bacterial. The risk of cross-contamination is reduced even more as the public, patients and doctors do not share the same elevators.

The hospital corridors are carpeted and are also anti-bacterial. Android tablets hang in and outside every room in what is a paperless system allowing doctors to view or transfer medical records with ease.

In the radiology department sits a Siemens Biograph mMR (molecular magnetic resonance) machine, the first one in Asia, which provides one-time whole body scans reducing radiation exposure by combining Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in a single-machine.

Then there is the Hybrid Operating Theatre, designed for smooth transitions between minimally invasive (faster operations, smaller incisions, less anaesthesia which leads to shorter recovery times) or invasive procedures if the need is there.

The operating rooms are equipped with Maquet PowerLED Surgical Lights which give out shadow-free lighting. Surgeons will no longer have to squint or move their body positions to rid of their shadows during a surgical procedure.

Outside the building are solar panels which heat up water for warm showers for the rooms and suites. The rooms are canted allowing for natural lighting. Behind a sliding door is a toilet, built deliberately close as 90 per cent of falls in hospital occur when patients visit the toilet.

After the two-hour tour, I retreat to my room and tried out the Smart TV by playing Angry Birds and then going on Facebook.

All the same while eating Salmon Panini and drinking Novem Tea, specifically blended for the hospital by the Gryphon Tea company.

Being a rather curious person, I fiddled too much with the Smart TV remote which inevitably led to a blank screen. I called the nurse through a call button and she was there within minutes asking what my problem was.

At MNH, one nurse is assigned for every three patients. This is even less with the more premium rooms some of which offer butler services, raising the bar yet again on personalised nursing services.

They say that time flies when you are having fun so before I knew it, dinner came. I then sat down in the hospital cafeteria to eat a three-course meal which was topped off with an experimental mushroom ice cream dessert.

Food is part of the healing process at MNH, said one of the staff. She then unveiled the culinary team of about 15 led by an experienced chef who has won accolades.

The new hospital is located in Novena, Singapore's premier medical hub. MNH is the only hospital in Built by Parkway Pantai Group, a leading healthcare group based in Singapore, the hospital aims to attract medical tourists to Singapore. The Group operates 16 hospitals across Asia, including Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore. And, key markets are Indonesia, Malaysia, India and China.

Throughout the trip, I have had to remind myself that MNH is a hospital but it is easy to forget that if you experience five-star hotel treatment. Whatever your perception is, it is entirely up to you. But the best thing is knowing that you will be well taken care on at MNH.The Brunei Times