National Healthcare Group
Special Feature | NHG

Bracing The Future Of Allied Health

National Healthcare Group
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) strives to improve the standards of healthcare in Singapore by making contributions to the prevention of illnesses and the preservation of a good quality of life. BrightSparks speaks to NHG scholar Ng Li Bing to find out how the Group’s scholarship has taken her further.

In Singapore, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) is a leading public healthcare provider that is recognised for the quality of its medical expertise and facilities. Its integrated network of six polyclinics, acute and tertiary hospitals, specialty centres as well as business units provide top-notch care for patients, bringing a rich legacy of medical expertise to the NHG philosophy of integrated patient-centred care.

NHG’s vision, ‘Adding Years of Healthy Life’, goes beyond merely healing the sick. The group takes on a more challenging yet infinitely more rewarding task of preventing illness and preserving health and quality of life with all its patients.

In the medical disciplines of Prosthetics and Orthotics, there is a common goal to help patients with limb loss or physical challenges through physical rehabilitation, enhancing their function and lifestyle.

We catch up with 24-year-old Ng Li Bing, a scholar with NHG who is currently pursuing her Masters of Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics, to find out more about this field, as well as how NHG is nurturing talent to bring healthcare in Singapore to the next stage.

Ng Li Bing

Ng Li Bing 
Healthcare Merit Award Recipient
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics – La Trobe University

Developing Allied Health Professionals

Li Bing had set her aspirations on working in the healthcare sector from a young age due to her strong interest in the Sciences, and especially in Biology. It was by chance that she was introduced to Prosthetics and Orthotics, sparking her interest in these disciplines. “I was informed of the Healthcare Merit Award by my lecturers in Singapore Polytechnic (SP), and I thought that it would be a great opportunity for me to pursue my passion in the Allied Health industry as a Prosthetist and Orthotist,” she recalls.

The scholarship has given Li Bing valuable opportunities to develop her career as an Allied Health Professional (AHP), allowing her to experience the different healthcare systems in Singapore and Australia. She shares, “I had the privilege to pursue my degree in Australia, where I did Prosthetics and Orthotics clinical attachments at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and Sydney Children’s Hospital respectively. It was an amazing experience to be exposed to a different healthcare system and working culture.”

“I hope to be a patient-centred Prosthetist and Orthotist at TTSH, making a positive impact in my patients’ life and contributing back to society.” Li Bing

On top of that, Li Bing got a glimpse of the future technologies in the field that would further enhance the lives of patients. “I was also very fortunate to be given the chance to attend the annual congress organised by the Australian Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (AOPA) to learn more about the new and current innovations and technologies in the industry. It was great to be able to interact and engage with many delegates and experts from different parts of Australia,” she adds.

Advancing Healthcare

Applying for this scholarship has certainly helped Li Bing grow in other ways. Having to live abroad for her studies has enabled her to become more independent and adaptable, which will no doubt prove useful to Li Bing when faced with unforeseen circumstances.

She is also grateful for an attachment with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) during her vacation. “Not only did I have quite a few hands-on episodes in casting and manufacturing prosthetic check sockets, I also gained a better understanding of the department workflow. To top it off, it was nice to interact with my future colleagues!”

Li Bing feels that these experiences will help cement her career path once she graduates. “I hope to be a patient-centred Prosthetist and Orthotist at TTSH, making a positive impact in my patients’ life and contributing back to society,” she says.

To those who are interested in applying for the Healthcare Merit Award, Li Bing advises, “I encourage you to look for job-shadowing opportunities to observe the work routine in your field of interest to get a realistic ‘sense’ of the job. Most importantly, seize opportunities to interact and speak with people to learn more about the profession.”