Clin Assoc Prof Seow Wan Tew is a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at National Neuroscience Institute (also KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital). Areas of clinical focus include paediatric neurosurgery.
Clinical focus
paediatric neurosurgery.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS, FRACS (Neurosurgery), FAMS (Neurosurgery)
Where they practise
Seow Wan Tew practises at National Neuroscience Institute (also KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital), in the Department of Neurosurgery. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the surgical care of the brain, spine and nerves. Neurosurgeons treat brain tumours, aneurysms and other blood-vessel problems, head and spinal injuries, hydrocephalus, and spine conditions such as slipped discs, spinal stenosis and sciatica — as well as functional problems like trigeminal neuralgia and some movement disorders. Not every problem needs an operation: many spine conditions improve with non-surgical care, and surgery is advised when symptoms are severe or progressive. When needed, techniques include minimally invasive and microsurgery, image-guided navigation and endoscopic approaches. Neurosurgeons work closely with neurologists, oncologists and rehabilitation teams, and prompt treatment matters for conditions like stroke from a bleed or spinal-cord compression.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in neurosurgery include:
- Brain tumours
- Slipped disc, sciatica and spinal stenosis
- Brain aneurysms and vascular malformations
- Head and spinal injuries
- Hydrocephalus
- Trigeminal neuralgia and functional conditions
What to expect at a consultation
An initial consultation usually involves a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a focused examination, and any tests needed to reach a diagnosis. The specialist will explain the findings, walk you through your options — including non-surgical approaches where relevant — and set out the likely costs and next steps before anything proceeds. If a procedure is recommended, it is reasonable to ask what it involves, the expected recovery time, the risks and the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision at your own pace. It helps to keep asking questions until you fully understand the plan.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring referral letters, past reports, scan images and a list of your current medications.
- Note your main symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Write down the questions that matter most to you, and bring a family member if it helps.
After your consultation and follow-up
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given medication, referred for further tests or imaging, scheduled for a procedure, or asked to return for review. Ask what warning signs should prompt earlier contact, how to get your results, and who to reach if you have questions between visits. Keeping your own copy of reports makes future care and any second opinion easier.
Costs, subsidies and financing in Singapore
For subsidised care at a public (restructured) hospital, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is generally needed; private specialists can usually be booked directly at full fees. Ask upfront for an estimate covering the consultation, tests and any procedure. Depending on the treatment, you may be able to use MediSave for approved day-surgery and procedures (within set limits), with MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan helping for larger inpatient bills. Purely cosmetic procedures are not claimable. If cost is a concern, it is worth asking whether a subsidised referral is possible, and comparing written estimates between providers before you commit.
How to choose the right neurosurgeon in Singapore
Beyond credentials, it helps to match the specialist to your specific problem. Consider whether their sub-specialty fits your condition, how often they manage or operate on cases like yours, which hospital they admit to (and whether it suits your budget and insurance), and how clearly they explain your options and costs. Accreditation can be confirmed on the Register of Specialists and registration on the Singapore Medical Council register. Independent reviews are a useful signal for communication and experience, but weigh them alongside credentials rather than on their own.
Questions worth asking at your first consultation
- Are you an accredited specialist in the area my condition falls under?
- What are my options, including non-surgical or watch-and-wait approaches?
- How often do you treat or perform this, and what are the typical outcomes and risks?
- What is the full estimated cost, and what can I claim through MediSave or insurance?
- Are you comfortable with me seeking a second opinion?
Verifying credentials
In Singapore every practising doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, and specialists are additionally listed on the Register of Specialists maintained by the Specialist Accreditation Board — you can search both to confirm a doctor’s registration and field. The letters after a name (such as MRCP, FRCS or FAMS) reflect postgraduate training and fellowships, but the key question is simply whether the doctor is an accredited specialist in the area relevant to your care.
When to consider a second opinion
A second opinion is reasonable before major surgery, for a serious or unclear diagnosis, or when a recommended treatment feels aggressive or uncertain. Good specialists welcome it. Bring your reports and scans so the second doctor can assess the same information. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records to take along, and seeking another view will not offend a good specialist.
Common questions
When should I see a neurosurgeon?
For a brain tumour or aneurysm, significant head or spine injury, or spine problems such as a slipped disc, sciatica or spinal stenosis that are severe, progressive or not improving with non-surgical care — and urgently for sudden severe symptoms.
Do all slipped discs need surgery?
No — most improve with time, physiotherapy and pain management. Surgery is considered for severe or worsening weakness, uncontrolled pain, or nerve or spinal-cord compression.
What is the difference between a neurosurgeon and a neurologist?
A neurosurgeon operates on the brain, spine and nerves, while a neurologist treats neurological conditions medically; they often manage patients together.
Do I need a referral to see this specialist?
For subsidised care at a public hospital you generally need a GP or polyclinic referral; private specialists can usually be seen directly.
How can I verify a doctor’s credentials?
Check the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and the Register of Specialists for accredited specialists.
Selected research & publications
Seow Wan Tew has contributed to peer-reviewed research in neurosurgery. A selection of published work:
- Revascularisation surgery for paediatric moyamoya disease: The Singapore experience — J Clin Neurosci, 2020
- Fibrofatty filum terminale: long-term outcomes from a Singapore children’s hospital — J Neurosurg Pediatr, 2023
- Paediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures: 12-year experience from a Singapore children’s hospital — Childs Nerv Syst, 2023
- Spinal Dysraphism-Perspectives from a Southeast Asian Pediatric Neurosurgical Unit — World Neurosurg, 2023
- Monomodality versus Combined Therapy in Optic Pathway Gliomas-20-Year Experience from a Singapore Children’s Hospital — Front Surg, 2022
- The Seow Operative Score (SOS) as a decision-making adjunct for paediatric Chiari I malformation: a preliminary study — Childs Nerv Syst, 2019
Related guides
Sources & verification
Profile details are summarised from the doctor’s official listing (official profile). Registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and specialist accreditation on the Register of Specialists.
General information only, not medical advice. Details may change — confirm current clinic, availability and fees with the provider.
See also: our editorial directory of neurosurgeons in Singapore.
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