The objective of PaedsENGAGE GP is to ensure that children who really need emergency care can be attended to as soon as possible. “Timely medical attention prevents further deterioration of their symptoms or mitigates any longterm effects the condition may cause. Sometimes, it is even life-saving,” said Dr Nur Adila, Consultant, General Paediatrics Service, KKH. “We strongly encourage parents to visit PaedsENGAGE GP instead of the CE for mild to moderate conditions, including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and minor injuries.” KKH also has the Urgent Paediatric Advice Line (U-PAL), a complimentary 24-hour online service that helps caregivers assess whether their child requires a visit to the CE.

PaedsENGAGE GP, which is short for ENGagement And GP Empowerment, expands the role of GPs in the community through dedicated training, to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to manage paediatric medical conditions. This ensures that the child receives appropriate and timely treatment while also getting an assessment on whether a trip to the CE is necessary.

Through the programme, the partnering hospitals aim to develop and strengthen intermediate- and long-term paediatric services in the community, and enable the right-siting of care for children with mild to moderately acute conditions. In turn, it enables children to receive comprehensive care within the community while offering parents and caregivers greater access to care close to home. To be eligible for PaedsENGAGE GP, patients have to be below 18 years of age.

There are currently over 400 accredited GPs throughout Singapore who are part of the programme. One of the main successes of PaedsENGAGE GP, which has been in place for about a year, is that more patients are now treated at GP clinics. “According to our recent data analysis, there has been a significant 12 per cent reduction in non-emergency attendance at KKH CE compared to the previous year,” said Dr Adila. “We have also received numerous positive feedback from both GPs and caregivers.” A parent, sharing her experience about her child’s referral to KKH, said: “Our GP referred my child to the CE when her condition did not improve. I really appreciate that we don’t need to visit the paediatrician for every health episode now that GPs are trained to treat paediatric conditions.”

Doctors under the programme are certified as PaedsENGAGE GP Partners after completing a comprehensive training programme designed by KKH and NUH. Modules include clinical approaches to common paediatric conditions such as abdominal pain, common eye, ear, nose and throat conditions, minor injuries, common infections, antibiotic use, and assessment on the need to refer a child to the CE. If a referral is required, the child must be brought to the CE within 12 hours, along with the original copy of the referral form. In such situations, GPs typically refer patients to the nearest children’s emergency department. However, parents can decide whether they prefer to be referred to KKH CE or NUH CE. A caregiver shared that she appreciated how smooth and efficient the whole referral process was, as the triage at KKH CE took into consideration the information provided by the GP, which expedited the process.

At the CE, patients are triaged based on the severity of their conditions. Children with life-threatening conditions are attended to first, and those assessed to have less severe ailments may have to wait longer for their turn. After the child has received the appropriate treatment, the GP who gave the referral will be updated on the outcome of the child’s condition for continuity of care by the GP where needed. This enables GPs to also have a better understanding of the child’s medical history, and will be able to play a bigger role in supporting the child’s healthcare needs.

Keeping up to date

Regular education forums are also organised for the PaedsENGAGE GP Partners. These forums aim to ensure that doctors stay updated with the latest knowledge and skills required to manage common paediatric conditions. “We also introduced clinical observerships, where GPs are invited to come to the KKH CE to observe the management of cases, processes and procedures. As at June 2024, about 30 GPs have completed their clinical observerships with KKH CE.

GPs who are part of the PaedsENGAGE GP programme can be identified by a decal at the entrance of the GPs' clinics. Paediatric patients who are referred to KKH CE or NUH CE by these GPs will receive a $50 subsidy on the prevailing attendance fees. Find out more at kkh.com.sg/paedsengage.

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