Broaching the topic of palliative care

A rising urgency for palliative care

Story about a dying patient

Conveying information to families

It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early.

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

End-of-life planning is never easy. A better way could be to start the process early by planning for the life you want to lead and leave behind. 

After all, death is a part of life, and it may be helpful to start thinking about it years before, said a palliative care doctor and a surgeon who does not shy away from talking about death and dying well with her patients.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two guests. They discuss the importance of end-of-life planning and palliative care, and how talking about death can help us come to terms with this reality.  

Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was a former Nominated MP and the past president of the Singapore Medical Association.

Dr Shirlynn Ho is the deputy head and senior consultant of the Division of Supportive ＆ Palliative Care at National Cancer Centre Singapore. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:08 Broaching the topic of palliative care

6:30 Why is there a rising urgency for palliative care?

10:41 Story about a dying patient

13:32 How do medical professionals convey information to families?

Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Amirul Karim and Eden Soh

Edited by: Eden Soh

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

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Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early.
Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.
End-of-life planning is never easy. A better way could be to start the process early by planning for the life you want to lead and leave behind. 
After all, death is a part of life, and it may be helpful to start thinking about it years before, said a palliative care doctor and a surgeon who does not shy away from talking about death and dying well with her patients.
In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two guests. They discuss the importance of end-of-life planning and palliative care, and how talking about death can help us come to terms with this reality.  
Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was a former Nominated MP and the past president of the Singapore Medical Association.
Dr Shirlynn Ho is the deputy head and senior consultant of the Division of Supportive ＆ Palliative Care at National Cancer Centre Singapore. 
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:08 Broaching the topic of palliative care
6:30 Why is there a rising urgency for palliative care?
10:41 Story about a dying patient
13:32 How do medical professionals convey information to families?
Produced by: Joyce Teo (<a href="mailto:joyceteo@sph.com.sg">joyceteo@sph.com.sg</a>), Ernest Luis, Amirul Karim and Eden Soh
Edited by: Eden Soh
Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaN"> https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWRX"> https://str.sg/JWRX</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaQ"> https://str.sg/JWaQ</a>
SPH Awedio app:<a href="https://www.awedio.sg/"> https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Read Joyce Teo's stories:<a href="https://str.sg/JbxN"> https://str.sg/JbxN</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
In Your Opinion:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Asian Insider:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7"> https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaN"> https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Green Pulse:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaf"> https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Your Money &amp; Career:<a href="https://str.sg/wB2m"> https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
ST Sports Talk:<a href="https://str.sg/JWRE"> https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
#PopVultures:<a href="https://str.sg/JWad"> https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Music Lab:<a href="https://str.sg/w9TX"> https://str.sg/w9TX</a>
Discover ST Podcasts:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/i44T">https://str.sg/i44T</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps):<a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2"> https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Invisible Asia (9 eps):<a href="https://str.sg/wuZn"> https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
Stop Scams (10 eps):<a href="https://str.sg/wuZB"> https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps):<a href="https://str.sg/wuJa"> https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
---
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#healthcheck

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Podcaster: Joyce Teo

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.
Podcaster: Joyce Teo
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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