Dr Ooi Yau Wei is an interventional cardiologist and Medical Director of Sozo Cardiology at Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre. He graduated from the National University of Singapore and completed advanced interventional cardiology training at the University of British Columbia, Canada, with a clinical focus on complex coronary intervention using the radial (wrist) approach. He previously served in the Department of Cardiology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and has held academic appointments including Cardiology Lead at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Clinical focus
Interventional cardiology.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS, MRCP (UK), FAMS (Cardiology), FRCP (Edin), FACC.
Where they practise
- Clinic / practice: Sozo Cardiology — Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre, Irrawaddy Road
- Hospital affiliation(s): Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Related heart-health guides
Getting to the clinic
Dr Ooi Yau Wei practises with Sozo Cardiology at Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre on Irrawaddy Road, in the Novena medical cluster. The most direct public route is Novena MRT on the North-South Line (NS20), from which the medical centre is a short, largely sheltered walk past Square 2 and the surrounding Novena specialist buildings. Several bus routes serve Thomson Road and Irrawaddy Road, so a bus and a short walk is a reasonable alternative for those coming from further afield.
If you are travelling by car or taxi, drop-off points are available at the building entrance, and taxi or ride-hailing pick-up is straightforward on departure, which suits patients attending for tests or after a coronary procedure. The specialist centre and adjoining hospital have paid visitor carparks, so allow extra time at busy clinic hours. The sheltered, lift-served links between the MRT, the malls and the medical centre make the approach comfortable in warm or wet weather.
What interventional cardiology covers
Dr Ooi’s focus is interventional cardiology, with a particular interest in complex coronary intervention using the radial (wrist) approach. Interventional cardiology treats narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, the vessels supplying the heart muscle, using catheter-based techniques. Angioplasty opens a narrowed artery with a small balloon, and a stent is usually placed to keep it open. These procedures relieve angina and are central to treating heart attacks by restoring blood flow without open surgery.
The radial approach means the catheter is passed through an artery at the wrist rather than the groin. For many patients this can mean a more comfortable recovery and earlier mobility. Complex coronary intervention refers to treating more challenging blockages, such as long, heavily calcified or completely blocked arteries, which require advanced techniques and experience. Alongside procedures, interventional cardiologists also assess and manage coronary risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.
What to expect at a consultation
A first visit usually begins with a discussion of your symptoms, such as chest tightness or pain on exertion, breathlessness or palpitations, and your risk factors and family history. The doctor reviews your medicines and examines your heart and circulation. Tests may include an ECG, blood tests, an echocardiogram and a stress test. Where coronary disease is suspected, a CT coronary scan or invasive angiogram may be discussed to look at the arteries directly.
The consultation generally ends with an explanation of the findings and a plan, which may range from medication and risk-factor control to a coronary procedure such as angioplasty and stenting. You will have the opportunity to ask about your risk, the options and what recovery involves, including the benefits of the wrist approach where it applies.
Preparing for your appointment
Bring your photo identification and any GP or polyclinic referral letter. Gather previous heart records, including earlier ECGs, stress tests, angiogram or CT reports and any discharge summaries, particularly if you have had a heart attack or coronary procedure before.
- An up-to-date list of all medicines and supplements with doses, including cholesterol, blood pressure and blood-thinning medicines.
- Recent blood results such as cholesterol and blood sugar if available, which help assess cardiovascular risk.
- A written list of symptoms and questions, including how much exertion brings on chest discomfort or breathlessness.
- Details of other conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease that affect treatment choices.
After your consultation and follow-up
After your visit, the findings and plan will be explained and any further tests arranged. For risk-factor control, follow-up visits monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and adjust medicines over time. If a coronary procedure is recommended, you will be guided through the preparation, the procedure and recovery, including care of the wrist or access site, with review visits afterwards. Your GP can be kept informed to support ongoing prevention between specialist visits.
Continuity matters because coronary disease is long-term and benefits from steady risk-factor control. You may seek a second opinion before any procedure. Seek urgent help, or call emergency services, if you have chest pain that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes or spreads to the arm, jaw or back, especially with sweating or breathlessness, as this can signal a heart attack.
Booking, referrals and fees
As a private clinic, appointments can usually be made directly without a referral, though a GP or polyclinic letter helps share your history and may assist if you later seek subsidised care in the public system. For eligible procedures such as angioplasty and stenting, MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may apply within set limits, while consultations are generally paid out of pocket. Confirm the expected costs and your insurance coverage with the clinic in advance.
Common questions
What is the radial (wrist) approach?
It means the catheter for a coronary procedure is passed through an artery in the wrist rather than the groin, which for many patients allows a more comfortable recovery and earlier mobility.
What does complex coronary intervention mean?
It refers to treating more challenging blockages, such as long, heavily calcified or completely blocked arteries, which require advanced techniques and experience.
How do I know if I need angioplasty?
The need depends on your symptoms and the results of tests such as a stress test, CT scan or angiogram. Not all narrowings need a procedure; some are managed with medication.
Do I need a referral to see a private interventional cardiologist?
Usually not, though a referral letter helps with continuity of care and may matter for subsidies if you are later seen in the public system.
Sources & verification
See also: Best cardiologists in Singapore (editorial directory) and our shortlist of cardiology clinics.
This is an independent, factual profile compiled from the public sources listed above — not a paid listing, advertisement or endorsement. Details can change; always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council public register and confirm specifics directly with the clinic. This page is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual practitioner. See our editorial policy.
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