Singapore General Hospital Medical Social Service Singapore

Singapore General Hospital Medical Social Service Singapore

Singapore General Hospital Medical Social Service Singapore offers support for perioperative care, caregiver planning and discharge needs linked to anaesthesia and surgery episodes. We help patients and families manage emotional, financial and practical issues during surgery. We also ensure the discharge process goes smoothly.

Who we are

Medical Social Service (MSS) at Singapore General Hospital serves patients, caregivers and the broader hospital community. We have medical social workers (MSWs) in every clinical specialty. We also have social work assistants (SWAs) who help us deliver hands‑on psychosocial care.

How we help you before surgery and during perioperative care

• We work with you before your surgery, to plan caregiver needs and answer questions about what to expect.

• We link you to services that help you cope emotionally or psychologically with surgery and anaesthesia.

• We assess your social situation and connect you with community or hospital resources if you face difficulties.

Discharge planning and caregiver support after surgery

Once surgery ends, we help you move from hospital back home. We organise discharge planning. We arrange home‑help, community hospitals or nursing homes if needed. We ensure caregiver‐planning is in place so support continues after you leave.

Counselling, financial and practical assistance

You can ask us for counselling for anxiety, grief, emotional distress or loss. We assist with financial aid if treatment costs or other expenses worry you. We also help with safety planning in cases of interpersonal violence or other risks.

Trauma, bereavement and group support

We support trauma cases arising from surgery or other injuries. We provide psychological first aid. We help with grief or loss if loved ones die suddenly. We run support groups for patients and caregivers.

Home visits and community links

After discharge, we can visit your home to check how you are coping. We assess daily living challenges. We link you to agencies and community support.

Our team and teaching work

We collaborate with healthcare professionals across surgery, anaesthesia, nursing, therapists. We train social work students. We also do research to improve results for patients.