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Open Access for Procedures / Investigations

​​Make a referral for endoscopy, minor surgery and advanced imaging

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About Open Access​

​This programme allows patients who require medical attention at primary care facilities to have direct referral access to endoscopy, minor surgery, and advanced imaging, bypassing the need for a consultation with a specialist.

General practitioners (GPs) can refer patients for endoscopy, minor surgery, and advanced imaging via an online referral form. Patients will need to meet the eligibility criteria for a direct referral to these services through this programme. This programme minimises the waiting time for patients to get a diagnosis or intervention. ​​

Please ensure that patients fulfil the inclusion and exclusion referral criteria before submitting the referral. If you have queries on the patient’s suitability for any  Open Access Services, please contact us at  6363 3131. ​

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Make a Referral


​​​Click on the links below to make a referral.​ ​
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Open Access Surgery
  • Excision of Skin Lump​
  • Aural Toilet (Cerumen)
  • Excision of Fractured / Impacted / Diseased / Wisdom Teeth, etc

    To book an appointment with WH Dental Surgery Clinic​
    Call 6363 3131
    Mon to Fri: 8.00am to 8.00pm
    Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 8.00am to 2.00pm

    Walk-in to WH Dental Surgery Clinic
    Woodlands Health, Tower C, Level 1
    Mon to Fri: 8.30pm to 5.30pm
    Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: Closed​

​Open Access Investigations​

​Open Access Endoscopy​
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Referral Criteria​

Click to expand.​​
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  1. Only ambulant healthy individuals who are agreeable for LA (i.e. no phobia of blood or needles) should be referred for Open Access Surgery.

  2. Patients with these conditions are not suitable for Open Access Surgery:
  • Below 16 years old
  • Non-ambulant patients with poorly controlled comorbidities
  • On antiplatelets / anticoagulants
  • Require GA / Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)
  • Allergy to LA
  • Uncooperative patients
  • Uncertainty about origin or nature of lump (e.g. parotid / submandibular gland origin)
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Procedure
Discipline
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Excision of Skin Lump
General Surgery (GS)
  • Superficial skin or subcutaneous lumps (lipoma, sebaceous cyst, papilloma) < 5cm, located over the torso and neck only
  1. Lump size > 5 cm
  2. Facial lumps
  3. Axillary lumps
  4. Infection, ulceration or abscess of the skin
  5. Breast lumps
  6. Thyroid lumps
  7. Peri-anal lumps
  8. Genital lumps
  9. Suspicious features
  10. Infected lesions
  11. Patients on airborne/ droplet transmission precautions that require isolation nursing care
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Excision of Skin Lump
Orthopedic Surgery (Ortho)
  • 1. Superficial skin or subcutaneous lumps (lipoma, sebaceous cyst, papilloma) < 5cm, located over the upper and lower limbs
  • Ganglion cysts of the hand < 3cm
  1. Lump size > 5 cm
  2. Ganglion > 3cm
  3. Suspicious features
  4. Infected lesions
  5. Patients on airborne/ droplet transmission precautions that require isolation nursing care
Excision of Skin Lump
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
  • Superficial skin lumps over the head and neck (e.g. sebaceous cysts)
  • Lip mucoceles
  • Tongue pyogenic granulomas which are 1cm or less
  1. Lump size > 1 cm​
  2. Infected lesions
  3. Patients on airborne/ droplet transmission precautions that require isolation nursing care
Aural Toilet (Cerumen)Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
  • ​Patient is alert and ambulant and assessed to have impacted ear wax as the only complaint
  1. No previous history of ear surgery on the same side
  2. Does not have any of the following: otorrhoea, otalgia, vertigo
  3. Consider referring to ED or ENT Hot Clinic for concurrent infection
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Excision of Fractured / Impacted / Diseased / Wisdom Teeth etc Dental Surgery
 List of procedures available:
  • Dentofacial trauma
  • Surgical excision of fractured/impacted teeth
  • Incision & drainage (I&D) of orofacial abscesses
  • Excision of lesions with or without biopsy
  • Mucoceles / lumps of the oral cavity
  1. Require sedation
  2. Require sedation
  3. ​​On dual antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants with INR > 2.5
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Investigation
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion​ Criteria
X-ray ServicesNILNIL
Ultrasound ScansUS Hepatobiliary System (HBS)
US Kidneys
US Abdomen (HBS and Kidneys)
US Urinary Bladder
US Urinary Bladder & Kidneys
NIL​
CT Scans (only non contrast low dose CT lung screen and CT KUB) CT KUB
  • Adults with suspected renal colic.
CT KUB
  • Prior CT study performed within 3 months.
  • Not a candidate for ionising radiation study (e.g. pregnant patient).
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CT Lung Screen
  • Adult patients aged 50 to 80 years old and,
  • 20 pack-year smoking history and,
  • Currently smoking or quitted smoking for less than 15 years.
 CT Lung Screen
  • Less than 50 years old or above 80 years old.
  • Quitted smoking for more than 15 years.
  • Not a candidate for curative treatment for lung cancer.
  • Not a candidate for ionising radiation study (e.g. pregnant patient)
Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Test NILNIL​
ABPI / TBPI / PPG
  1. Peripheral arterial disease
  2. Part of diabetic foot screening
  • ​Presence of foot wounds (at ankle and distally)
  • Patients with DFU should be referred expediently to WH LEAPP (Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Programme) clinics
US CVIChronic venous insufficiency or varicose veins
  • Unable to stand for >30 minutes​
  • Presence of active cellulites
  • Presence of ulcers on shin / calf
US DVT​​
Clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis
  • Clinical suspicion of symptomatic pulmonary embolism
  • Presence of active cellulites
Urea Breath Test (UBT)​​
Post-Open Access Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD) patients ​​
 NIL
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Procedure
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD)
  • Recurrent upper abdominal pain/ bloating
  • Recurrent reflux / heartburn
Patient characteristics
  • Unable to open mouth wider than 3cm between the upper and lower incisors
  • Unable to give consent < 21 years old, or > 60 years old
  • Pregnant
  • Difficult airway (e.g. short chin, OSA, morbid obesity)
  • Loose tooth

Medical conditions
  • Overt GI bleeding
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 180/100)
  • Severe cardiopulmonary disease
  • Has cardiac device (e.g. cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, heart valve replacements)
  • Recent AMI / CVA within 6 months

Specific medications
  • Diabetic on insulin
  • On dual antiplatelet therapy
  • On anticoagulation: warfarin and NOAC medications (e.g. dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) ​

Colonoscopy
  • Rectal bleeding
  • ​FIT +ve
  • Family history (1st degree relative) of colorectal cancer
  • Polyp surveillance (based on previous instructions from scopist)
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 Patient characteristics
  • Unable to give consent < 21 years old, or > 60 years old
  • Pregnant
  • Difficult airway (e.g. short chin, OSA, morbid obesity)
  • Last Colonoscopy done within 2 years

Medical conditions
  • Overt GI bleeding
  • Abdominal pains
  • ignificant loss of weight Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 180/100)
  • Severe cardiopulmonary Disease
  • Severe, unstable ischaemic heart disease
  • Has cardiac device, e.g. cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, heart valve replacements
  • Recent AMI / CVA within 6 months
  • Moderately severe to severe chronic kidney disease

Specific medications
  • Diabetic on insulin
  • On anticoagulation: warfarin and NOAC medications (e.g. dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban)
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​Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What happens after I submit a referral via FormSG?​

    You will receive a confirmation email upon submission of the form. A WH staff will screen, schedule and inform patient on the appointment date and time. Please provide the Patient Information Sheet to the patient for his/her reference.​

  2. What should I do if my patient’s condition worsens prior to the appointment date? ​

    Please refer patients immediately to an appropriate care facility such at the Urgent Care Centre or Emergency Department (as per current protocols). ​Please also call us at 6363 3131 to cancel the appointment.​

  3. How will I be notified of the results of the procedure / investigation? ​

    After the procedure / investigation, you will receive either a phone call (for critical results) or email with supporting reports.​

  4. What are the costs of the procedures / investigations?​

    Costs will be as per WH’s standard charges for these procedures / investigations. A price list containing estimated fee range of the procedures / investigations will be given to your clinic for your reference. Please email enquiry@wh.com.sg if you have not received the price list.

  5. Can Medisave be used for any of the Open Access Services?​

    Yes, Medisave can be used as long as the claim criteria is met.​
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