NUHS Patient Grand Rounds:
Walking a Mile in My Shoes -
Partner-to-Care Programme
At the recent NUHS Patient Grand Rounds – "Walking a Mile in My Shoes" series, participants gained powerful insights into the world of caregiving through heartfelt sharing, panel discussions and real stories from the ground. Held as a lunchtime workshop, the session brought together clinicians, caregivers and allied health professionals for a meaningful conversation on collaborative care.
One of the highlights was the sharing by Nurse Clinician Nellie Tan, Jurong Community Hospital, who introduced the Partner-to-Care programme. First rolled out to nurses in November 2022 and fully launched across JurongHealth Campus (JHC) since September 2023, the initiative aims to educate, reinforce and inspire caregivers through hands-on involvement.
To date, the impact has been significant:
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At NTFGH, 1,510 caregivers have clocked over 7,953 hours of hands-on opportunities.
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At JCH, 288 caregivers have contributed more than 10,618 hours.
Beyond skills training, the Partner-to-Care programme also addresses caregivers' well-being. Initiatives include:
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A patient-caregiver engagement trolley offering board games, colouring materials and snacks to support mental wellness.
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Bedside and seated exercises that empower caregivers to assist in patients’ mobility and rehabilitation
During the panel discussion, moderated by the Care Integration team, a broad range of thoughtful perspectives were shared.
Ms Alice Chan, a caregiver, recounted her journey supporting her bedbound mother who required tube feeding. She candidly described the emotional and technical challenges, from managing needles to dealing with day-to-day care at home. With ongoing support from the home care team and community partners like St Luke’s and hospice services, Alice shared how small victories—like being able to feed her mother comfortably—became reasons to celebrate. The consistent encouragement from nurses made all the difference.
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From a clinical perspective, Dr Darryl Tan, Associate Chairman, Medical Board (Patient Experience & Culture) and Head of the Patient Experience and Culture Office (PECO), as well as Principal Resident Physician, Psychiatry, emphasised the need to shift from episodic inpatient-focused interactions to more sustained, family-inclusive care-based engagement. Involving caregivers more actively creates new opportunities for care teams to engage, update, and educate families throughout the patient's journey.
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Physiotherapist Ivan Tan shared about the Caregivers Training Grant Bundle (CTGB), which equips caregivers to support patients with mobility exercises. This not only enhances rehabilitation outcomes and boosts patient motivation but also builds caregivers’ confidence and reduces their anxiety.
So, how can we make the caregiving experience more conducive?
Some practical improvements are already in motion—such as plans to replace safari beds with more comfortable options for caregivers staying overnight.
On the human front, speakers agreed: patience and encouragement from nurses go a long way. By breaking down tasks and providing step-by-step support, healthcare teams can empower them to become confident, capable partners in care.
Key takeaways from this sharing session:
The panel discussion surfaced several key messages for the healthcare community:
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Mindset Shift: Caregivers must be seen as active partners in care, not just visitors. Building collaborative relationships leads to better patient outcomes.
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Health Systems Literacy: Empowering caregivers with a better understanding of healthcare processes helps them support their loved ones more effectively.
Looking ahead, the Partner-to-Care programme will continue to track trends, assess long-term outcomes, and share best practices across the cluster. The focus remains: inspiring, empowering, and strengthening partnerships that place patients—and their caregivers—at the heart of care.
This session was a valuable reminder that behind every patient is a caregiver walking a journey that deserves recognition, support, and collaboration.