FAQs

General Enquiries

1. Who are HNF’s patients?

HNF provides home healthcare services to patients islandwide who require home nursing, home medical and/or home therapy services, regardless of their income level. At the same time, we also look after our patients’ social well-being and other practical needs. Close to 70% of our patients are bed-bound or have mobility issues, and many of them have at least three to five medical conditions such as stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

2. How many patients do HNF serves annually?

Averagely, we care for close to 5,000 patients, making almost 38,000 home visits annually.

3. Is HNF registered with Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status?

Yes, HNF is an approved Institution of a Public Character (IPC). As an IPC registered charity, HNF is able to issue tax deductible receipts for qualifying donations to donors. 

Our Services

1. How often will the home visits be?

It depends on your condition and needs, and your caregiver’s nursing ability. We will advise you accordingly after we have assessed your case. Any preference for a specific visit schedule may be considered based on staff availability.

2. Can I plan the home visit schedule?

Yes, the assigned primary nurse will discuss with you on your preferred date and time.

3. Can I change the time and/or date of the home visit?

Yes, you may contact our Call Centre at 6854 5555 at least one day in advance of your scheduled home visit to make the change.

4. Is there a waiting list for HNF’s services? How long will it be?

In the unlikely event that HNF has reached its maximum service capacity, there may be a waiting period of two weeks. You will be informed by our referral team if you are placed on the waiting list.

5. How long will the service last?

It varies according to your condition and the type of care required. Your case will be periodically reviewed to determine your condition and whether the care goals have been achieved.

Kindly note that a new request for referral is required if a patient is discharged from HNF and has been admitted to a hospital or nursing home.

6. Does HNF conduct home visits during weekends and public holidays?

HNF is opened from Mondays to Fridays, and does not conduct home visits during weekends and public holidays.

For Emergency Nursing Services:

Monday to Friday: 5.00pm – 9.00pm (Last call for emergency nursing services: 8.00pm) *There will be a surcharge of $50 for extended hour service requests. Closed on weekends and public holidays Contact number: 6854 5555

7. Can I voluntarily discontinue the services during the period of care?

While you can discontinue our services, we strongly encourage you to discuss your decision with our nurse, doctor or therapist, before doing so. Do note that a new referral is required to re-activate any discontinued services.

8. What are the services provided by HNF?

The services provided by HNF can be a single or combination of services required based on the patient’s healthcare needs.

Home Nursing

  • Health assessment including monitoring of blood sugar and blood pressure
  • Medication management
  • Administration of injections/loading of insulin
  • Nasogastric tube management
  • Urinary catheters management
  • Wound and stoma care
  • Removal of stitches/staples
  • Negative Pressure Dressing
  • Patient/caregiver training
  • Manage home bound patients with Bullous Pemphigoid (In collaboration with National Skin Centre)
  • Manage patients with exit site infection of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Catheter (In collaboration with National Kidney Foundation Singapore (NKF))

Home Medical

  • Regular review of patients’ health status
  • Order and review diagnostic tests
  • Prescribe medication
  • Refer patients to other team members e.g. nurses for nursing intervention and/or therapists for rehabilitation interventions
  • Refer eligible patients to the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) and perform certification, if required.

Home Therapy

  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy

Social Support

  • Assesses the needs and financial situations of each patient and assists in applying for government subvention.
  • We also work with Community Development Councils, Social Service Offices and other Voluntary Welfare Organisations, including Family Service Centres to provide counselling and befriending support for patients and their families.
9. How do I engage HNF’s services?

We accept referrals from hospitals, polyclinics, general practitioners, and medical social workers. You may also contact us directly at 6854 5555 or via email enquiry@hnf.org.sg for assistance on engaging our services.

10. What are the charges?

The charges vary for each case, depending on the condition of the patient and the services required. Patients with a monthly per capita household income of S$2,600 and below can apply for government subvention. The subsidies for eligible patients are based on the Ministry of Health’s means testing guidelines.

 

Citizenship

Home Nursing (Simple)
Service Fee

(Per Visit)

Home Nursing (Complex)
Service Fee

(Per Visit)

Home Medical
Service Fee

(Per Visit)

Home Therapy (PTOT)
Service Fee

(Per Visit)

Home Therapy (ST)
Service Fee

(Per Visit)

Home Personal Care Service Fee 

(Per Hour)

Disability Assessment

(Per assessment)

Singapore Citizen / Permanent Resident $14 – $105  $16 – $115 $25 – $255 $22 – $134  $30 – $150 $4 – $27

 $2501 , 2  (GST is included)

1 1st assessment for CareShield Life is free

2 Full reimbursement will be paid by MOH if the application is successful

Foreigners $197  $207 $366 $247  $247 $37   As above

*Service fee listed excludes GST.

For those who require further financial assistance, HNF provides full waiver of its fees with its charity dollars obtained through donations.

11. How soon will my case be assessed once a referral is made?

Our nurse will contact you and/or your family members to arrange for the first home visit to assess your case once we receive the referral.

  • For home nursing and home therapy services, visits will be done within seven working days upon receiving the referral.
  • For home medical service, visits will be done with three weeks upon receiving the referral.

Caregivers Support

1. Does HNF provide caregivers’ training?

Yes, our nurses will conduct one-on-one training for the caregivers in the patients’ homes that involve basic nursing skills according to the patients’ needs and medical conditions.

2. As a caregiver, what should I do if I encounter any of the following scenarios when caring for the patient?
  • Deterioration in patient’s condition
  • Patient develops new symptoms or discomfort (e.g. fever, pain, vomiting)
  • Worsening wounds
  • Blocked/ pulled out feeding tubes that require nursing intervention
  • Blocked/ slipped out urinary tubes
  • Questions on medication(s)

You can contact our Call Centre at 6854 5555, and a clinical staff on duty will advise you on the appropriate actions to take.

Our Staff

1. Are HNF clinical staff trained?

Yes, all our clinical staff are highly qualified and well-trained. Our nurses are registered with the Singapore Nursing Board and have worked in acute hospital settings for a minimum period of three years. We also have a panel of GPs who are accredited with the Family Physicians Accreditation Board and the Singapore Medical Council. All our therapists are also registered with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), a professional board under the Ministry of Health.

2. Do we recruit foreign nurses?

No, HNF recruits only locally registered nurses.

Ways to Support HNF

1. How can I support HNF?

You may support HNF in one or more of the following ways below:

Make a donation

Volunteer with HNF

  • Organise social and recreational outings for our patients and their caregivers

  • Provide administrative and logistic support

  • HNF events support

  • Skills-based volunteering (e.g. Photographers; Graphic Designers etc)

Awareness and Outreach

  • Organise fundraising events to raise charity dollars for HNF

  • Participate as a HNF Donation Box Placement Programme Partner

  • Invite HNF to deliver public awareness talks in your organisation

  • Sponsor HNF’s services and events

  • Adopt HNF as a charity of choice for your corporate social responsibility initiative

Click here for more information 

2. How can your donation help?
  • Each home-nursing service visit will cost $100. 

  • Each home-therapy session will cost $125.

  • Each home-medical visit will cost $240.

  • Each home-personal care session will cost $26 per hour.

Patients with a monthly per capita household income of S$2,600 and below can apply for government subvention.

The subsidies for eligible patients are based on the Ministry of Health’s means-testing guidelines.

For those who require further financial assistance, that’s when charity dollars of HNF obtained through donations are used to do a full waiver of patients’ fees.

Your donation, no matter big or small, will go a long way towards helping our patients to continue receiving high-quality home healthcare services without financial worries.