[CM] [WH] [E3] [CRA] [T1-1] List of Threats and Crisis Scenarios

Introduction to Part 1-1: CRA – List of Threats

The Crisis Risk Assessment (CRA) forms the foundation of Woodlands Health’s preparedness strategy, enabling the organisation to identify, evaluate, and anticipate potential threats that could disrupt its operations.

As an integrated acute and community hospital serving the Northern population of Singapore, Woodlands Health operates in a complex environment where health service continuity is critical to the well-being of patients and the wider community.

This chapter, Part 1-1: CRA – List of Threats, presents a structured overview of possible crisis scenarios across five key crisis types: Denial of Access – Natural Disaster, Denial of Access – Man-made Disaster, Unavailability of People, Disruption to the Supply Chain, and Equipment & IT-Related Disruption.

For each crisis type, the chapter outlines specific threats, their descriptions, and their potential impact at both the country and organisational levels.

By systematically identifying these threats, Woodlands Health strengthens its capacity to plan mitigation measures, allocate resources effectively, and coordinate timely responses.

This process not only supports operational resilience but also ensures the organisation remains aligned with the National Healthcare Group’s (NHG) broader risk management framework and Singapore’s national emergency preparedness objectives.

List of Threats for Woodlands Health [1] Natural and [2] Technological

Table Below: Notes for BCM Institute's Course Participants: This is the template for completing the "Part 1: CRA – List of Threats."

Part 1: CRA – List of Threats for Woodlands Health [1] Natural and [2] Technological

Crisis Type	Type of Threats / Crisis Scenario	Description of Threats	Country Level	Organisation Level
Denial of Access – Natural Disaster	Flooding	Heavy rainfall or flash floods are affecting Northern Singapore, disrupting road access to Woodlands Health Campus and surrounding community facilities.	Disruption to transportation networks; emergency services are delayed.	Inability for staff, patients, and suppliers to physically access the campus; evacuation of vulnerable patients.
	Severe Haze (Transboundary Pollution)	Seasonal haze from regional forest fires is causing hazardous air quality.	Nationwide health advisories, school closures, and travel disruption.	Suspension of outdoor rehabilitation programmes, increased respiratory cases, and reduced staff availability due to illness.
	Extreme Weather (Storms / Lightning)	Intense thunderstorms with lightning strikes are causing access disruptions.	Power outages and traffic accidents due to heavy rain and strong winds.	The temporary shutdown of open-air facilities (e.g., Woodlands Healing Garden) delayed patient transfers.
Denial of Access – Man-made Disaster	Terrorist Attack / Bomb Threat	Security incident in or near the Woodlands region leading to lockdown.	National security response, transport and building access restrictions.	Evacuation, lockdown, and patient relocation to other NHG facilities.
	Civil Unrest	Public demonstrations or riots affecting major roads or public transport nodes.	Restricted movement in affected areas, police deployment.	Staff and patients are unable to access the campus; elective appointments are postponed.
Unavailability of People	Pandemic / Infectious Disease Outbreak	There has been a surge in contagious illnesses (e.g., COVID-19, influenza), causing high absenteeism.	National quarantine orders are a strain on healthcare resources.	Insufficient staffing for clinical and support services; postponed elective surgeries.
	Mass Casualty Event in the Region	Sudden large-scale incident requiring deployment of medical staff to emergency sites.	National disaster response activation.	Overstretch of resources, extended working hours, diversion of manpower from routine care.
Disruption to the Supply Chain	Medical Supplies Shortage	Delay or unavailability of essential medical consumables, PPE, or pharmaceuticals.	Import/ export restrictions, regional manufacturing shutdowns.	Delay in critical treatments, rationing of supplies, and compromised infection control.
	Food Supply Interruption	There is a disruption in catering services for patients and staff.	National food shortages or supplier closure.	Nutritional care for patients is compromised, and staff welfare is affected.
Equipment and IT-Related Disruption	Power Outage	Loss of electricity due to grid failure or a local technical fault.	Widespread impact on businesses and infrastructure.	Disruption to critical medical equipment, life-support systems, and IT services.
	IT System Failure / Cyberattack	Ransomware or a network outage affecting hospital systems.	Disruption to public services, potential data breaches.	Inability to access patient records, scheduling systems, and diagnostic tools; patient safety risks.
	Medical Equipment Failure	Critical equipment breakdown (e.g., MRI machines, ventilators).	Limited national stock for specialised spare parts.	Delay in diagnosis or treatment, patient transfers to other facilities.

Summing Up ...

The threats outlined in this chapter underscore the diverse range of challenges that could affect Woodlands Health’s ability to deliver uninterrupted healthcare services.

From natural hazards such as flooding and haze, to technological risks like cyberattacks and equipment failures, each identified scenario carries distinct operational and community implications.

Recognising these threats in advance allows the organisation to integrate targeted risk mitigation measures into its crisis management framework. This proactive approach supports rapid decision-making, minimises service disruptions, and protects the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.

The List of Threats/ Crisis Scenario is not static; it must be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the external environment, emerging risks, and lessons learned from past incidents.

As Woodlands Health continues to expand its services and deepen its community integration, this CRA will serve as a living reference to guide resilience planning and preparedness for future crises.

Operational Readiness: Crisis Management Implementation for Woodlands Health
eBook 3: Starting Your Crisis Management Implementation

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