The 1990 Start-Up Team
“While many transformations have taken place, there is one thing that remains unchanged: our care for all patients. As nurses we must be caring and we must demonstrate our care with our hands. This ethos is reflected in what we do each day.”
Tan Joon Fong Deputy Director of Nursing (Dayward)
In 1990, Professor Arthur Lim asked me to join SNEC to set up the Day Surgery unit. We started with two registered nurses, an enrolled nurse and one health attendant. Our team, while small, covered the ward, worked in staggered shifts from 7am to 4pm, 8.30am to 5.30pm and 12pm to 9pm. I remember the unit then only had eight cubicles, four recliners and four beds. By September 1990, Professor Lim performed our first eye surgery, a procedure that evoked so much gratitude in the patient that he continued to visit SNEC often for several years after the surgery. So much has changed since then. Today, the day ward has expanded its capacity many-fold, with 35 recliners and 17 beds Our nursing team has also grown to 16 registered nurses, six enrolled nurses and six health attendants in our Day Ward family. While many transformations have taken place, there is one thing that remains unchanged: our care for all patients. As nurses we must be caring and we must demonstrate our care with our hands. This ethos is reflected in what we do each day. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job is the nightly duty to do follow-up calls to check on patients. This call almost always evokes a ‘thank you’ from patients and their families, words that make my day and the work we do as nurses worthwhile.
SNEC Silver Jubilee Pioneer Award 1989 1 2
Ms Charity Wai Sue Lea Ms Kathy Chen Seng Yow
Chief Operating Officer Manager, Training & Education Department (seconded to APACRS)
1990 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Ms Noraini Bte Abdul Hamid Ms Pamela Chan Chi Leng Ms Fang Lai Mei Ms Serene Foo Siew Fong Ms Wendy Hui Yue May Ms Leong Foong Wah Ms Lim Mein Chee Mr Lim Tiam Chai Mr Patrick Ng Yuen Hwa
Principal Enrolled Nurse Admin Clerk Senior Nurse Manager Senior Director, Quality Service Nurse Clinician Senior Enrolled Nurse Deputy Director of Nursing Principal Technical Officer Principal Ophthalmic Investigation Specialist
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Ms Ong Chui Hong Ms Cindy Sim Guay Hiang Ms Siow Kalin Ms Tan Joon Fong Ms Margaret Tan Swee Lin Mr Michael Tham Sue Hou Dr Peter Tseng Seng Fook Dr Ronald Yeoh Lam Soon
Senior Enrolled Nurse Nurse Clinician Senior Principal Optometrist Deputy Director of Nursing Deputy Director of Nursing Senior Operating Theatre Assistant Senior Consultant Senior Consultant (part-time)
1991 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Prof Chee Soon Phaik Ms Chua Siew Lang Ms Violet Goh Huan Tian Ms Nancy Liew Mee Chin Ms Low Siew Ngim Ms Ong Lay Hui Ms Ong Suat Kheng Ms Pang Yoon Mee Prof Donald Tan Tiang Hwee
Senior Consultant Healthcare Attendant Senior Accounting Manager Nurse Manager Director of Nursing Manager, Listing Suite Senior Nurse Manager Senior Enrolled Nurse Arthur Lim Professor in Ophthalmology
29 30 31
Ms Mary Tan Gek Heoh Ms Tay Khar Geok Ms Wee Lee Jong
Senior Enrolled Nurse Nurse Manager Manager, Medical Records Office
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