We are pleased to welcome you to the 2nd Asia Pacific Social Prescribing Conference. I am heartened that this signature event organised by SingHealth Regional Health System and SingHealth Community Hospitals has gained traction in the region, with more than 1,000 attendees attending our inaugural event in 2022. It has built on the momentum and connections established since, and demonstrated our commitment to social prescribing, attracting new stakeholders and strengthening existing partnerships. It also reinforces the conference's role as a catalyst for positive change in healthcare and community well-being.
The overarching theme of "City for All Ages" highlights the importance of social prescribing in population health, and underpins how holistic approaches to health and well-being are important in life outcomes. Addressing social determinants of health such as built environment, social connections and community access is key in social prescribing, and the theme reminds us of how holistic models of care such as social prescribing can contribute to population health outcomes. Having holistic, person-centred approaches like social prescribing allows for an environment that fosters people who seek to thrive at all ages and contribute meaningfully to society.
Our work in the areas of practice, research, and education in social prescribing has come a long way since we started our journey in 2019. This could only be possible through working with like-minded peers like yourselves, whom we have met through platforms such as this conference. We are honoured to be able to offer this conference now, as a platform to continue fostering ongoing learning, innovation, and networking opportunities crucial for advancing the field. Participants can delve deeper into best practices, share success stories, address challenges collaboratively, and ensuring that we deliver sustained impact together.
I also wish to take the opportunity to thank all our overseas speakers and delegates for making time to come to Singapore to spend time with us, and to spread best practices and ideas to the local community.
On behalf of the Organising Committee, we look forward to welcoming you at the 2nd Asia Pacific Social Prescribing Conference 2024 in Singapore!
Assoc Prof Lee Kheng Hock
Organising Chairperson, 2nd Asia Pacific Social Prescribing Conference 2024;
Deputy CEO, Education and Community Partnerships, SingHealth Community Hospitals
Senior Consultant, Family Medicine and Continued Care, Singapore General Hospital
Co-Lead, Complex Needs Track, SingHealth Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation
Secretariat:
About SingHealth Community Hospitals and SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCHOOL)
SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) comprises Sengkang Community Hospital and Outram Community Hospital, where the focus goes beyond healthcare to health as patients are provided with a homely environment to recuperate and take part in well-paced personalised care. As part of the SingHealth Regional Health System, SCH believes in working closely with community partners to allow patients to receive holistic and continued care during admission and after discharge. SCH Office of Learning (SCHOOL) started in 2019 to co-develop curriculum content, develop and train competencies of employees in healthcare, ILTC and social care sectors, to enable collaborative learning between SingHealth RHS and partners through the co-development and sharing of resources such as competency framework curriculum, codes of best practice and training tool kits that support continuous learning and practice improvement. SCHOOL also identifies new areas of competencies and emerging needs to boost industry training through a faculty comprising experienced, community-oriented healthcare professionals. Through partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning and professional bodies, SCHOOL aims to provide grounded, relevant upskilling on-the-job training for industry.
