Latest news with #Chas
Straits Times
a day ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Work in progress to make all health screening data accessible to GPs
Forum: Work in progress to make all health screening data accessible to GPs We agree with Dr Ang Yee Gary that a central health screening registry accessible to all general practitioners (Create a central health screening registry that all GPs can access, June 10) will be useful and improve care for patients. Today, Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) GPs can access their patients' eligibility for Healthier SG screening through their clinic management systems or the MOH Healthcare Claims Portal. GPs can also access the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system, which contains the results of health screening conducted by public healthcare institutions and GPs participating in Healthier SG. However, it does not capture the results of health screening conducted by other private clinics. The Ministry of Health is working on a Health Information Bill where all private and public healthcare providers will be required to contribute clinical information, including screening test results, to NEHR. This will be made available to GPs to further enhance patient care. Ruth Lim (Dr) Director (Disease Policy and Strategy) Ministry of Health More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Ensure parity in subsidies for Healthier SG patients
I signed up for Healthier SG with my general practitioner (GP) in late 2023 and have since been receiving treatment for my diabetes there. I am 66 years old and part of the Merdeka Generation. Healthier SG patients were supposed to enjoy the same subsidised rates as polyclinic patients. But this wasn't the experience I had. For instance, I currently pay 40 cents per pill for metformin at my GP – significantly more than what I would pay at a polyclinic. Recently, my GP referred me to the Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic for an X-ray for a frozen shoulder. To my surprise, I was charged $50 and told that Chas and Merdeka Generation subsidies did not apply because the referral came from a private clinic. When I explained that my GP is in the Healthier SG panel, the staff were unable to offer a clear explanation. I have since written to the Ministry of Health for clarification but am still awaiting a response. The purpose of Healthier SG is to give patients more personalised care through their regular GPs while also easing the load on polyclinics. But if patients continue to face higher costs and inconsistent subsidies, it defeats the point of the scheme. As someone who is semi-retired and needs to manage my expenses carefully, I am seriously considering returning to polyclinic care instead. Subramani Hariharan More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The National
06-06-2025
- Health
- The National
Perthshire children's hospice announces major £17 million revamp
The Kinross-based Rachel House is one of two children's hospices run by Children's Hospices Across Scotland (Chas) and will undergo 'extensive upgrades' to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the families who rely on it. The redesign will include an additional hydrotherapy pool, better-equipped bedrooms, and fully accessible adventure gardens. Work on the building is due to start next year, with the full project set for completion in 2027, subject to approval from Perth and Kinross Council. READ MORE: More than £1m in funding announced for restoration projects for Scottish coastline The charity said that the redesign had 'put children and families at the heart of the process' with their input key to the changes being made. Dr Qusai Alhamdan, whose children Mo and Elaine have been supported by Rachel House since 2021, said Rachel House holds a 'very close' place in her family's hearts. The children both suffer from ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, which causes problems with movement, co-ordination and balance. (Image: Children's Hospices Across Scotland) 'As their condition is degenerative, making memories together as a family is very important to us and we have spent many wonderful respite visits at Rachel House over the last four years,' Alhamdan said. 'My wife Esraa and I find our visits to the hospice very relaxing because we don't have to worry about our caring responsibilities as the lovely nurses and staff take over and do everything that is needed so we can just enjoy precious time together.' Built in 1996, Rachel House cost £10m and supported just under 100 children a year in the first few years. Now that number has more than doubled and continues to rise, the charity said. Ken Lowndes' two daughters, Jenny and Marion, were two of the first children to be cared for when the hospice first opened. Both were born healthy, normal babies, but with a two-year age gap, Jenny and Marion were diagnosed with leukodystrophy when they were four years old. Before Rachel House opened, the family made a regular 900-mile round trip from their home in Achiltibuie, north of Ullapool, to Martin House in West Yorkshire. (Image: Children's Hospices Across Scotland) Lowndes said: 'The time we had together in Rachel House was precious for our whole family. It was a place my wife Ann and I felt supported and where we knew our girls would be loved and cared for. 'Children's hospices can sound frightening but in reality it's a place of joy, light and humour, where memories are made and where parents can recharge their batteries and can just be parents – not parent, medic, and round the clock carer.' He added: 'We helped to fundraise for Rachel House but we never knew if Jenny and Marion would get to visit, if they'd live to see it. They did. They loved it, as did we all. 'Ensuring the next generation of families has the same standard of care that my family experienced is vital and the redesigned Rachel House will go on to make a huge difference to hundreds more Scottish families.' Chas CEO, Rami Okasha, said the project is a huge development for the charity, but one they haven't taken on lightly. He added that the charity wants to transform end-of-life care for children and continue to deliver the highest level of care at the hospice. Okasha said: 'CHAS gives unwavering care to children who may die young, and their families, at every step on the hardest of journeys. Rebuilding Rachel House will cost £17 million and is part of getting that right. Applying for planning permission today is the first important step for us. (Image: Children's Hospices Across Scotland) 'This is a huge project for us and one we haven't taken on lightly. We want to transform end-of-life care for children and their families in Scotland. While Rachel House has served hundreds of families well until now, to deliver the high-level care required long into the future we need to upgrade and rebuild. Okasha added: 'No one should face the death of their child alone and to be successful we are once again asking or donors to get on board and help raise the millions of pounds that will make a difference every day for families dealing with the unimaginable reality of loving and caring for a child who will die young.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's hospice announces £17m revamp
Kinross children's hospice Rachel House is set for a £17m revamp, thirty years after it opened. The hospice, which was the first of its kind in Scotland, is one of two run by Children's Hospices Across Scotland (Chas). The redesign will include an additional hydrotherapy pool, better-equipped bedrooms and fully accessible adventure gardens. Building work is due to start next year with the full project set for completion in 2027, subject to approval from Perth and Kinross Council. Rachel House was built in 1996 at a cost of £10m and opened by HRH The Princess Royal. It supported just under 100 children a year in the 1990s, but that number has more than doubled and continues to rise. The charity said that the redesign had "put children and families at the heart of the process" with their input key to the changes being made. Dr Qusai Alhamdan, whose children Mo and Elaine have been supported by Rachel House since 2021, said the hospice was "very close to our hearts." The children both suffer from ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, which causes problems with movement, co-ordination and balance. Dr Alhamdan said: "As their condition is degenerative, making memories together as a family is very important to us and we have spent many wonderful respite visits at Rachel House over the last four years. "My wife Esraa and I find our visits to the hospice very relaxing because we don't have to worry about our caring responsibilities as the lovely nurses and staff take over and do everything that is needed so we can just enjoy precious time together." Ken Lowndes' two daughters Jenny and Marion were two of the first children to be cared for in Rachel House when it opened. Born healthy normal babies with a two-year age gap, both Jenny and Marion were diagnosed with leukodystrophy when they were four years old. Before Rachel House opened, the family made regular 900-mile round trips from their home in Achiltibuie, north of Ullapool, to Martin House in West Yorkshire. Mr Lowndes said: "We helped to fundraise for Rachel House but we never knew if Jenny and Marion would get to visit, if they'd live to see it. "They did. They loved it, as did we all. "Ensuring the next generation of families has the same standard of care that my family experienced is vital and the redesigned Rachel House will go on to make a huge difference to hundreds more Scottish families." Chas chief executive Rami Okasha said the charity wanted to transform end-of-life care for children and their families in Scotland. He said: "No one should face the death of their child alone and to be successful we are once again asking or donors to get on board and help raise the millions of pounds that will make a difference every day for families dealing with the unimaginable reality of loving and caring for a child who will die young."
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Kinross children's hospice Rachel House set for £17m revamp
Kinross children's hospice Rachel House is set for a £17m revamp, thirty years after it hospice, which was the first of its kind in Scotland, is one of two run by Children's Hospices Across Scotland (Chas). The redesign will include an additional hydrotherapy pool, better-equipped bedrooms and fully accessible adventure work is due to start next year with the full project set for completion in 2027, subject to approval from Perth and Kinross Council. Rachel House was built in 1996 at a cost of £10m and opened by HRH The Princess supported just under 100 children a year in the 1990s, but that number has more than doubled and continues to charity said that the redesign had "put children and families at the heart of the process" with their input key to the changes being Qusai Alhamdan, whose children Mo and Elaine have been supported by Rachel House since 2021, said the hospice was "very close to our hearts."The children both suffer from ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, which causes problems with movement, co-ordination and balance. Dr Alhamdan said: "As their condition is degenerative, making memories together as a family is very important to us and we have spent many wonderful respite visits at Rachel House over the last four years."My wife Esraa and I find our visits to the hospice very relaxing because we don't have to worry about our caring responsibilities as the lovely nurses and staff take over and do everything that is needed so we can just enjoy precious time together." Ken Lowndes' two daughters Jenny and Marion were two of the first children to be cared for in Rachel House when it opened. Born healthy normal babies with a two-year age gap, both Jenny and Marion were diagnosed with leukodystrophy when they were four years old. Before Rachel House opened, the family made regular 900-mile round trips from their home in Achiltibuie, north of Ullapool, to Martin House in West Lowndes said: "We helped to fundraise for Rachel House but we never knew if Jenny and Marion would get to visit, if they'd live to see it. "They did. They loved it, as did we all."Ensuring the next generation of families has the same standard of care that my family experienced is vital and the redesigned Rachel House will go on to make a huge difference to hundreds more Scottish families." Chas chief executive Rami Okasha said the charity wanted to transform end-of-life care for children and their families in said: "No one should face the death of their child alone and to be successful we are once again asking or donors to get on board and help raise the millions of pounds that will make a difference every day for families dealing with the unimaginable reality of loving and caring for a child who will die young."
