The first successful stem cell transplant for children using unrelated cord blood from Singapore’s cord blood bank is performed by KKH.

2005

For the 4^th time in 5 years, a KKH nurse receives the prestigious President’s Award for Nurses. Lactation consultant Cynthia Pang, whose name is synonymous with breastfeeding in Singapore, received her award for her dedication and significant contribution to increasing the nation’s breastfeeding rate.

2004

KKH doctors can now spend more time with patients needing colposcopy, with MediScan®, a new computerised data and image archival system. The first of its kind in Asia, the system allows doctors to capture high quality photographs and videos of the cervix. It was developed with KKH doctors’ input.

The KKH DNA Laboratory receives the ISO 17025 SAC-SINGLAS Accreditation.

KKH became the first hospital in the Asia Pacific region to receive the Asian Hospital Management Award (AHMA) for Patient Safety and Risk Management. The hospital won the award for the series of measures undertaken to proactively improve the safety of women in labour and their newborns by identifying and managing potential risks (such as death to the mother and baby) in the Delivery Suite. So successful is the program in ensuring patient safety that KKH’s perinatal mortality rate is 4.92 per 1,000 births - one of the lowest in the world. In addition, KKH’s eclampsia rate has significantly dropped to 6.9 per 100,000 deliveries, likely the lowest for a tertiary maternity hospital. Eclampsia is the condition of maternal convulsion fits due to hypertension in pregnancy. The AHMA is widely regarded as the premier hospital management award program in the Asia Pacific region.

Using Doppler ultrasound, KKH is one of few centres in the world, and the only one in Singapore, to routinely look for artery-artery anastomosis (AAA) in monochorionic pregnanies (where identical twins share the same placenta with blood vessels connecting the umbilical cords). The presence of AAA indicates a lower risk of developing Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), and also a higher survival rate even if TTTS does develop. This new technique would facilitate the selection of treatment options.

KKH's Department of Diagnostic Imaging is accredited as a training centre for paediatric radiology by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), as part of a complete radiology training scheme at National University Hospital. It is the only such accredited paediatric radiology training centre outside of Australia and New Zealand. Local and foreign doctors who wish to train in paediatric radiology for their Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiology (FRANZCR) can now receive world class training form KKH's Diagnostic Imaging Department.

2003

On 23 March, KKH paediatricians and nurses set up the paediatric satellite facility for paediatric Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients at SARS Central - Tan Tock Seng Hospital. One month later, the hospital's obstetrician-gynaecologists, neonatologists and nurses set up the obstetrics facility there to look after non-emergency deliveries of suspect or probably SARS patients.

KKH's Laboratory is awarded the ISO 17025 accreditation, a leading international laboratory accreditation scheme, by the Singapore Accrediation Council-Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme. Users of KKH's Laboratory can be assured that it meets international standards in test methods and procedures, accuracy of equipment and its quality management system.

Neonatal and developmental paediatrician A/Prof Ho Lai Yun is awarded the Outstanding Paediatrician in Asia Award by the Association of Paediatric Societies of the Southeast Asian Region (APSSEAR). Given only once every three years, the award is in recognition of A/Prof Ho's outstanding contribution in paediatrics and child health. APSSEAR has more than 20 members comprising countries like India, Australia, the ASEAN nations, China, Japan etc.

For the 3rd time in 4 years, a KKH nurse receives the President's Award for Nurses. Assistant Director of Nursing Pang Nguk Lan received her trophy from President SR Nathan.

2002

KKH's IVF Centre introduces a new technique - Laser Assisted Hatching - to boost pregnancy rates for couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation. The new method helps the embryo to "hatch" itself to the lining of the uterus, thus enhancing the chances of a pregnancy. It is used to facilitate the implantation process in selective women. A laser microscope is used to create a small hole in the zona to assist the embryo to "hatch". Laser assisted hatching is superior to past techniques, as laser technology is more accurate and reliable, and is also faster and easier to use. The laser can be programmed to create precise holes in the zona that are of the exact same size.

KKH's paediatric heart doctors close a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (a rare condition resulting in cyanosis) with an Amplatzer device, and two large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer devices. The doctors are the first in Singapore to perform transcatheter occlusion with an Amplatzer device.

KK Gynaecological Cancer Centre is the only centre in Singapore and Asia to participate in the HPV Vaccine Trial - FUTURE II Study. This is a worldwide trial on a vaccine to protect women against the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.

2001

For the first time in Singapore, women can opt for a sterilisation approach that does not involve any incisions - Essure pbc (permanent birth control). The procedure, which takes about 30 minutes, does not require incision, general anaesthesia or overnight hospitalisation. Before, there had only been 2 forms of permanent birth control available for couples - surgical tubal ligation and vasectomy.

KKH's Director of Nursing Lee Yoke Lan receives the President's Award for Nurses.

2000

KKH cancer paediatricians' research success in paediatric neuroblastoma enables doctors to characterise the neuroblastoma cancer cell and understand how it behaves. This leads to an improved, tailored treatment regime for the child. By carefully selecting the children and tailoring the chemotherapy appropriately, the doctors are able to minimise the side effects and morbidity for the children, without compromising on the outcome. Armed with this experience in paediatric neuroblastoma research, KKH is now expanding its expertise into leukaemia by working on the TEL-AML1 gene in the leukaemia cell in children.

A landmark study by KKH's Urogynaecology Unit reveals that 90% of patients with stress urinary incontinence who underwent a new surgical technique called Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) recovered fully, faced fewer complications and required shorter recovery time, compared to the standard surgical procedure - Burch Colposuspension. The study is the first in Southeast Asia and second in Asia (after Taiwan).

KKH’s Gynaecological Cancer Centre is accredited as a recognised training centre for fellows pursuing the Certificate/Diploma in Gynaecological Oncology of the Royal Australian-New Zealand College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (RANZCOG). This is the first time an O&G subspecialty centre in Singapore is recognised by an international college of O&G. Within the O&G arena, the RANZCOG is recognised and highly regarded worldwide.

A team of doctors at KKH finds a way to tell if a baby with biliary atresia needs a liver transplant. Biliary atresia is a condition in which poorly formed bile ducts prevent the bile from draining from the liver. This could result in scarring of the liver and stunted growth in babies, so quick treatment is essential. The doctors found that babies whose liver tissues show certain microscopic features are unlikely to benefit from the Kasai operation – a standard operation for babies with biliary atresia. These babies are likely to need an early liver transplant to survive. The test indicates which babies need transplants urgently.

Nurse Manager Cher Sok Kew receives the inaugural President's Award for Nurses. This is a national award given to exemplary nurses for their outstanding work performance and contributions to the profession and community.

1999

KKH develops a single investigative method using high resolution ultrasound to diagnose biliary atresia in infants. The method, presented in a paper at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Paediatric Radiology, earns the Best Clinical Research Paper award – making Singapore the first Asian country to win this accolade. Early diagnosis of biliary atresia is essential for corrective surgery to be successful.

KKH becomes the first hospital in Asia to perform an endo anal pull-through for Hirschprung’s disease. Traditionally, laparotomy surgery is performed around 1 month of age. Now, surgery can be done as early as in the first week of life. Hirschprung’s disease is a congenital condition where a muscle in the colon fails to function normally, resulting in an accumulation of faeces.

KKH is the first hospital in Southeast Asia to use the Microwave Endometrial Ablation (MEA) procedure to treat heavy menstruation. MEA is suitable for patients who have completed their families, and where other medication has not helped.

In labour analgesia, KKH scores another first in Singapore by offering Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia.

1998

KKH is the first hospital in Singapore to offer the Tension Free Vaginal Tape operation. It is a treatment option for urinary incontinence. This makes Singapore the first country in Asia after Taiwan to do so.

KKH's paediatric surgeons use ovarian sparing surgery to remove ovarian tumours in young girls, without taking out the whole ovary, as is the conventional practice among children's hospitals worldwide. Doing so preserves the endocrine function, which allows the patient to go through normal growth and puberty. The patient's capacity to conceive later is also preserved.

1997

Doctors at KKH come up with a new technique, Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia, a 'mobile' epidural analgesia. This new method of pain relief allows a woman in labour full mobility and consciousness while easing her pain.

1996

First under-500 g baby to survive for four months outside the mother’s womb in Singapore is well enough to leave for home from KKH.

1995

First Laparoscopic Tubal Reanastomosis in Singapore is carried out. The minimally invasive procedure rejoins the severed fallopian tubes, reversing sterilisation.

1994

KKH's Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine is recognised by both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Radiologists for training in obstetric ultrasonography. This makes it one of the first 2 centres outside the United Kingdom to be awarded such recognition.

1993

Singapore witnesses the first intrauterine blood transfusion for a baby while it is still in its mother’s womb. The baby was anaemic due to Rh disease.

1992

KKH performs Singapore’s first Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH).

1987

First woman in Singapore who went on a luteinizing hormone pump programme (LHRH) delivers a baby girl at KKH.

1986

Asia’s first Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) baby is born at KKH.

1983

Asia’s first in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or test tube baby is delivered at KKH.

1966

Work on trophoblastic disease at KKH is awarded the coveted Blair Bell Lectureship and the Edgar Gentilli Prize of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). World attention turns yet again to KKH and Singapore.

1965

Worldwide recognition is accorded to the Paediatric Unit’s Prof Wong Hock Boon and Dr WR Brown, a Research Associate of the Hooper Foundation, after they completed their work on kernicterus in Singapore. As a result of this work, all newborns in Singapore are now screened for Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

1964 - 65

KKH is the first in Singapore to use lung surfactant drug in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

1963

KKH earns accreditation from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). For the first time, aspiring gynaecologists no longer have to do their training in the United Kingdom but could do it entirely in Singapore.

1961

Singapore's first conjoined twins (Karen and Kate) were born at KK Hospital and successfully separated at Singapore General Hospital.

1950s

Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares pioneers a new technique for construction of the vagina for women born without it and successfully achieving pregnancies.

1924

Inception of KKH as a free maternity hospital with 30 beds.