Is a feeding tube permanent?

Often not. Short-term feeding usually uses a tube through the nose, while a longer-term one goes through the abdominal wall. Many tubes are temporary — in place for weeks or months — and only some are permanent. Your team explains what is expected in your situation.

Can I still eat and drink with a feeding tube?

It depends on whether your swallow is safe, which a speech and language therapist assesses. Some people are advised not to take anything by mouth; others can have tastes or some food for pleasure alongside feeds. The tube itself does not stop you eating.

Who looks after my feeding tube in Singapore?

Your hospital dietitian, nutrition nurse and home enteral nutrition team — they train you, supply feed and equipment, and review you. There is no dedicated local patient association, so your specialist team is your first contact. For emergencies, call 995.

Will tube feeding affect my breathing or speech?

No — a feeding tube does not affect your ability to breathe or speak. It delivers liquid nutrition to your gut. If breathing becomes difficult during or after a feed, however, that can signal aspiration and is an emergency — call 995.

Does the feed give me all the nutrition I need?

Yes — the dietitian prescribes a ready-made, sterile feed designed to meet your nutrition and fluid needs, and reviews it over time. Water flushes give extra hydration. Never change your feed or volumes yourself; ask your dietitian.

Living with a Feeding Tube in Singapore: A Guide

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 28 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

A feeding tube — also called enteral or tube feeding — delivers liquid nutrition, fluids and medicines straight into the stomach or small bowel when someone cannot eat or drink enough safely by mouth. If you or someone you care for is starting tube feeding, it is natural to feel daunted, but the reassuring reality is that people live full, active lives with a tube, and many can still enjoy some food if their swallow is safe. This guide introduces what a feeding tube is, why people need one, whether it is temporary, and where to find support in Singapore.

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

This is general information and does not replace the advice of your dietitian, nutrition nurse and medical team. Contact your team urgently if the tube falls out (the opening can begin to close within hours), and call 995 if breathing becomes difficult during or after a feed.

What a feeding tube is

A feeding tube carries a specially made liquid feed directly into the gut, bypassing the need to chew and swallow. Because the feed goes straight into a working digestive system, the body absorbs nutrients much as it would from food. As Macmillan explains, enteral feeding is used when the gut works normally but a person cannot take enough by mouth. The same tube is also used to give water for hydration and, where suitable, medicines. It does not affect your ability to breathe or speak.

Why people need one

There are many reasons. Common ones include swallowing problems (dysphagia) after a stroke or with neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease or Parkinson’s; cancers of the head, neck or food pipe; recovery from major surgery; and a period of reduced or unsafe intake for other reasons. Some children need a tube for particular conditions. The common thread, as Cancer Research UK notes, is that eating enough by mouth is unsafe or not possible for a time — and good nutrition supports healing, strength and treatment.

Temporary or long-term

A feeding tube is often not permanent. Short-term feeding usually uses a tube passed through the nose (a nasogastric or NG tube). When feeding is likely to be needed for longer, a tube placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach — a gastrostomy such as a PEG or RIG — is more comfortable and discreet. Macmillan notes that for head and neck cancer a tube is usually temporary, in place for a few weeks or months, with only a small number being permanent. Your team will explain what is expected in your situation.

Can you still eat?

Having a feeding tube does not, by itself, stop you eating or drinking — what matters is whether your swallow is safe, which a speech and language therapist (SLT) assesses. Some people are advised not to take anything by mouth because of a high risk of food going into the airway; others are cleared for “tastes” or some food for pleasure alongside their feeds. Where eating is safe, people are usually encouraged to enjoy some food as normal. We cover this in our eating and swallowing guide.

Your care team

Tube feeding is looked after by a team centred on the dietitian, who prescribes your feed and reviews your progress. Around them are a nutrition nurse specialist (who trains you in tube care), a gastroenterologist or the doctors placing and reviewing the tube, a speech and language therapist for swallowing, your GP, and a pharmacist for medicines given through the tube. BAPEN describes well-coordinated multidisciplinary care as best practice — and it means you always have someone to call.

Home enteral nutrition

Most people do not stay in hospital to be fed. Once things are stable, tube feeding continues at home — this is called home enteral nutrition (HEN). You or your family are trained before discharge to flush the tube, give feeds and look after the tube site, with the community or hospital nutrition team supporting you and supplying feed and equipment. Feeds may be given by syringe, by a gravity bag or by a feeding pump, and the routine is built around your daily life.

Living a full life and support in Singapore

People with a feeding tube work, travel, exercise, socialise and remain independent; low-profile “button” devices and portable pumps make normal activity easier. In Singapore, your hospital dietitian, nutrition nurse and home enteral nutrition team are your anchor for feed, equipment, troubleshooting and review, and hospitals such as SGH publish caregiver resources for tube feeding. There is no dedicated local tube-feeding patient association, so your specialist team is your first point of contact; the UK charity PINNT is a useful information resource. For any emergency, call 995, and if you are struggling emotionally, SOS is on 1767 and mindline.sg on 1771.

Sources

Macmillan — Enteral nutrition (tube feeding into the gut): macmillan.org.uk
BAPEN — Home Enteral Nutrition: bapen.org.uk
Cancer Research UK — Drip and tube feeding: cancerresearchuk.org
PINNT — support for people on home artificial nutrition: pinnt.com
Singapore General Hospital — Resources for tube feeding: sgh.com.sg

General information only. This guide supports — but does not replace — the advice of your dietitian, nutrition nurse and medical team, who train you and tailor tube feeding to you. Always follow your own team’s written plan. Contact your team urgently if the feeding tube falls out or is pulled out — the opening (stoma) can begin to close within hours — and call 995 if breathing becomes difficult during or after a feed (a possible aspiration), or if there is heavy bleeding, severe or worsening tummy pain, or a hard, swollen abdomen. If you are struggling emotionally, you are not alone — the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) are on 1767 and mindline.sg on 1771.

Living with a Feeding Tube (Singapore)