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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will cease the 1777 non-emergency ambulance hotline on Jan 1, 2027, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Jul 1).<\/span><\/p>\n First established in 1998, the 1777 hotline was a centralised number for the public to arrange non-emergency ambulance transport, preserving the 995 hotline’s emergency ambulance resources for life-threatening emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\n The 1777 centralised referral platform connects callers to participating private ambulance operators (PAOs) for medical transport services and other non-emergency conveyance needs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday, members of the public have more options for non-emergency medical conditions, including nearby general practitioner clinics and teleconsultation services,\u201d said MHA and MOH.<\/span><\/p>\n For non-emergency trips to the hospital, members of the public can also take taxis and ride-hailing services, which are readily available and commonly used.<\/span><\/p>\n According to data from 24 PAOs onboarded to the hotline, only 6 per cent of bookings today are made through the 1777 hotline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In view of these developments, both ministries and SCDF have assessed that the 1777 hotline for non-emergency medical transport services can be phased out.<\/span><\/p>\n SCDF\u2019s 995 hotline emergency services will not be affected by the cessation of the 1777 hotline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those who need medical advice for non-emergency conditions may contact the NurseFirst helpline at 6262 6262, where trained nurses will advise callers on appropriate care options.<\/span><\/p>\n