Poor service at SGH

last SG · 2007-05-14T23:46:39+00:00

Who set the $8 charge?For govt A & E services,it is more than $50. Which govt doc work for free?

play_n_play SG

Two bad or unlucky experiences before in the GOV hospital,

1. SGH, Dental Centre;

One young lady doctor took the x-ray of my teeth, after seeing the picture then told me with a very uneasy voice, "ooo, i am sorry i am new here, i know nothing, i need to consult the senior doctor"...? Embarassed i waited and waited about 1 hour then see the senior doctor...?

2. KK, the children's emergency clinic;

After my son was born 2 weeks time, because of crying so much, he lost his voice, bring him to KK, see the doctor, a lady doctor with very panic face and told me, "i am sorry i cannot help and i just graduated from the Universtiy"...? Embarassed
After a while, a gentleman doctor came and took a look, told me "it seems a bit serious, need to see the specialist", so we went to the nurse to get the booking, after checking something in the PC then told me, we need to wait at least one month...?

No comments any more... Cool Cool Cool

Rolling Eyes

maurizio13 SG

Raising charges is macham like ERP, the higher you raise the charges, the less the sick will go to the hospital. Hehehe....

Keep up the good work our beloved regime, you have a good strategy of maintaining efficiency in the healthcare service.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Nah... wrong.

For one, I believe a huge part of us is in the wrong. We call the ambulance for every minor issue. Once I was in the A&E department because my grandma had some serious health issues.

Guess what? A girl arrived in ambulance for a wound (and the wound isn't a gaping wound) that doesn't stop bleeding, and cut the queue and demanded that she be attended first. For goodness sake, this sort of issues should be sorted in polyclinic or just any clinic, not the A&E department.

I've seen a Bangladeshi waiting behind, with his head bleeding non-stop, but due to that lady, his treatment got delayed. The nurses can't do anything, in the name of good service. I could see from their faces that between ethics and services, they are stuck. It's very saddening to see their faces.

Also, given the constraints of our land space, A&E counters are packed with people who refused to clear the area for the paramedics. In my whole day there in the A&E department, I hear the paramedics shout "Excuse me!" more than anything.

Yes, I know we are concerned about our family members, but what about others? They too are concerned. By blocking the way, it wastes a lot of time and every second wasted might cause a life. And it's not first time that I've seen one died because they get in the way of paramedics. One that I've seen, lost too much blood and had soaked the hospital bed thoroughly. Died because couldn't move into the A&E department.

My reasoning for increasing prices is to just get the people away and stop wasting the time of A&E departments, since Singaporeans are so kiasu.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

In my opinion, yes. Though it will not deter all.

mistyblue SG

be realistic. This is Singapore and you are going to a public hospital.

robertteh SG

For the most part of the past 40 years of nation building, the government has been able to use their publicity and propaganda machinery which are under their control to their advantage by pushing away problems after problems to the people instead of proactively solving problems by following properly supervised and checked professional standards to equate to the best practices in the world.

Therefore many mistakes and shortcomings remain uncorrected today but were quickly blamed on people.

Blaming on people appears to be so skillfully done such as quoting some incidences of abuses of ambulances as if there were frequent occurrences and at the end the real problems were sidelined and left unsolved with raising of A&E fees instead.

Today such a protectionist system of running public services has led to inefficiencies. As compared to emergency treatment fees of S$45 by Mount Alvernia the S$70 (for common ailments on holiday when most private clinics are closed) currently charged by TTSH is exorbitant.

Considering that lands and infrastructures were already funded by taxation and there were a lot budget and off-budget surpluses, the government is making tons of monies every year even in recession years such stinging on emergency health care is really a big turn-off for any thinking citizens.

So the government has been practising denials in solving real social health and medicare problems and even though some elements of society may be irresponsible, uncaring and anti-social, it is immoral to use these as excuse to cover up urgent problems and solutions.

If anything happened in A&E the quick way out is to point out abuses of public facility or ambulances even though such people may turn to ambulances sometimes for the wrong illness but do not condemn the whole population by openly publicizing such minor abuses as if they are frequent abuses to get away from attacking fundamental reforms to overcome inherent shortcomings/

Over time, people have been brainwashed into blaming fellow citizens and delaying real solutions to hidden causes of shortcomings.

Citizens pay taxes which are supposed to be used efficiently to provide services so let the CEOs and Ministers who are paid millions or peanuts to face the music instead of blaming any complaints on fellow citizens on selective statistics which postpone solutions to real problems.

There is no need to be over-defensive of ministers or CEOs who fail to solve problems especially persistent delays in treating sick people in hospitals. Use a bit of imagination many real problems would be exposed and fundamental solutions found without any more excuses.

walesa SG

I know what you're driving at with regard to the post about your experience with your grandmother at an A&E. However, let's be clear about something - there's a thin line between charging for the sake of profiteering and charging to cover the cost of operations. What good is it to increase charges when the cost itself isn't the main problem to begin with? Let's face it : no billionaire who had an extra bob and a couple of hours to spare would actually turn up at an A&E for fun, would he? Afterall, it's not an amusement park we're talking about here.

From my first-hand observations of how things work at a NHS hospital (the observation was made in a NHS hospital during John Major's premiership, which seems a lifetime ago compared to the gross improvements that have taken place under Tony Blair's Labour government), the sort of issues you witnessed aren't alien to Singapore. Having said that, the efficiency and service of its A&E, for all its undue delays, was still lightyears ahead of Singapore's and the hospital essentially operated on the premise of providing medical care that is free to Britons.

If the NHS can adopt a free public healthcare system that caters to a population of 60 million and still be more efficient than a paid healthcare system provided by the fascists, what indications are there to suggest increasing charges is actually a solution to the root problem? Typical of this megalomaniac regime, the biggest irony of its charge-levying measures stems from the fact that it doesn't necessarily address the problem in question - afterall, it's not hard to see ERP tolls haven't exactly improved traffic conditions considerably, is it?

ShutterBug SG

Ethics? I don't think they know this word...

From what I see, it's basica sense of PRIORITY, and the cock ups are Basic Poor Management. That's all... not public's problem

People misused Ambulances - who is better to think up ways to curb it?? US??? The poorly paid public>????

The people from the general public, are least inspired people to think up solutions compared to the mulit-million dollar salaried government White Horses!

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I spend more time in the hospital more than the time I spend at home. They are frequent occurrences, not infrequent.

Solving real social health and medicare issues aside, who are those that visit the hospitals? It's humans. The government is just a dead entity, it itself is not in any way practising self denial.

It's the people in the government who are practising it.

While not all are irresponsible, uncaring and inconsiderate, there are just too many.

The government has attempted to educate the public on which issues that require immediate help, which not to. The booklets have been distributed to all families, so it gives no excuse on citizens to abuse them.

Hospital side: TTSH doesn't have clear instructions on not to block the paramedic's way in the A&E department, so I think it's not just the citizens' fault. Can't comment on other hospitals, I haven't spent enough time there.

Not exactly. If one really spend a lot of time in the hospitals, especially in the A&E department, you will understand why. Society plays a huge role, not just the government or hospital's practices, though they each has a part to play which resulted in today's problems.

By the way, A&E department handling of cases are efficient, it's just external factors that resulted in what we see as inefficiencies.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Rising of fees paid probably won't cover much of operation costs, there is simply is just too much to cover.

Actually, I would rather wish the billionaire is really too free. He needs to see the state of public hospitals and not take everything for granted. But of course, not call an ambulance for fun and see how it's being handled.

Rising fees is definitely not a solution to the root problem... it won't deter them anyway.

NHS is definitely a great example to study.

Mospeada SG

ehh...

i dun wish to talk abt SGH...

i will choose private hospitals over public hospital

<Precious> SG

Because your case is not life-thretening ma......... so can wait one lor...... Laughing

Mospeada SG

i have seen with my own eyes when went on there...

i will not comment

i will choose to go to private

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Err... they know, just that they aren't in position to offend, especially the nurses at the front line.

When the situation turns ugly, doctors are actually called down and explain to them. Seen it done a few times, when those at the A&E simply don't understand why they aren't given priority.

I don't think the public is able to think up of ways to curb it, those who closely with hospitals are. SCDF did come up with educational talks to educate the public, distribute booklets and teaching them which are emergency issues, which are not, how to handle them and if it gets out of hands, where to look for help.

On the hospitals side, some areas have been reconstructed to better handle the flow of traffic. Some areas are widen so that two or more hospital beds can go through (technically, without people blocking).

The white horses only came up with a brilliant scheme of increasing fares. Rolling Eyes

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Life threatening or not, at least give some basic first aid and not ask him to handle himself.

eggprata SG

Guess what? A girl arrived in ambulance for a wound (and the wound isn't a gaping wound) that doesn't stop bleeding, and cut the queue and demanded that she be attended first. For goodness sake, this sort of issues should be sorted in polyclinic or just any clinic, not the A&E department.

I've seen a Bangladeshi waiting behind, with his head bleeding non-stop, but due to that lady, his treatment got delayed. The nurses can't do anything, in the name of good service. I could see from their faces that between ethics and services, they are stuck. It's very saddening to see their faces

I believe that doctors are very highly trained,but its not the doctor that comes outside when you arrive in an ambulance to welcome you to the hospital.Its the other staff like the nurses.They should be able to see for themselves what is serious and what is not.Just cos you arrive in an ambulance it is not necessary that you see the doctor first.They should remember the other number,1777 and what is for.But sadly,not many Singaporeans know about 1777.Now don't go saying 'how the nurses know what is serious and what is not?' Dude,they did a year 3 course before starting life as nurses and some have already spent enough time at a hospital.Like you,i don't know if you're a healtcare professional or not but you just said you saw a Bangladeshi waiting behind whose head was bleeding non-stop.

And,IF there is some sort of system,the serious cases should be seen first.Sad to say,there isn't.Absolute nonsense that you come in a Civil Defence ambulance means you are serious.By the time you wait for the ambulance to arrive,you would had already departed,15minutes to arrive,another 15 to get to the hospital.

And,of course i have seen that your nationality plays a part as well.I bet if the Bangladeshi was some white dude (no offence),chances were high that he would had been rushed for treatment.But to them a Bangladeshi is someone illiterate and perhaps not important? But they may think 'Oh what if the white guy gives poor say about the country?'.See. Blame it on the Lee dynasty.I have seen it happen.We just want to give a 'good perception' to the foreigners,but sadly not to the foreign workers.

Also, given the constraints of our land space, A&E counters are packed with people who refused to clear the area for the paramedics. In my whole day there in the A&E department, I hear the paramedics shout "Excuse me!" more than anything.

Yes, I know we are concerned about our family members, but what about others? They too are concerned. By blocking the way, it wastes a lot of time and every second wasted might cause a life. And it's not first time that I've seen one died because they get in the way of paramedics. One that I've seen, lost too much blood and had soaked the hospital bed thoroughly. Died because couldn't move into the A&E department.

My reasoning for increasing prices is to just get the people away and stop wasting the time of A&E departments, since Singaporeans are so kiasu.

Dude,land constraints? They are building a god damned ferris wheel,the biggest.Perhaps it is too big for a small country.Screw land constraints.So if we are saying that healthcare is poor due to land constraints,it means one thing,the government dosen't give a f about the healthcare about the people,it just wants to generate profits.

Its not as if there is a waiting room built to let people wait in.Don't go saying land constraint,look at the size of SGH,when they built it,couldn't a room the size of a 3 room flat be built?Fuk man,i don't see that happening at private hospitals and they don't have as much space like SGH does,its Management my friend.

So what you do is very simple.Increase the prices so that the public thinks 'woah so expensive now plus must so long,screw them,lets go to a private hospital,at least the service there is much better'.Actually it ain't a bad idea.It can save us further pain and frustration.And screw the media as well.Read somewhere on the forums its ranked 154th in the world.They should do some coverage and give the government a wake up call.Sadly,we are slaves to the government.So much for Singapore being a democratic country.

robertteh SG

People as a collective noun is just as dead an entity as the government.

It is quite clear to the people after all these years' of complaints about poor services and long waiting time there will continue to be fee increases instead of solutions to problems.

One wonders what are all the talents and scholars doing if they cannot solve such basic problems as waiting time or efficient services.

It is always a case of people's being too demanding or abusing facilities instead of acknowledging problems and solving them fundamentally.

Hospitals have gone through many restructuring exercises but costs have always gone up instead services.

If we look at the all the direct and indirect taxes and all the double charges collected on lands and infrastructures by HDB, LTA. JTC, URA and all the corporatized GLCs by the government, Singaporeans is one of the most heavily taxed people and yet with such taxing and profiteering going on the government is still relentlessly seeking to tax and increase fees instead of providing better services or solving problems.

If Singaporeans are to be so naive to believe their own fellow citizens are the problem, then they will at the end only have themselves to blame if their government continues with the practices of denying problems and increasing GST, ERPs or hospital fees without accountability or services to the people.

walesa SG

That just sums it up. Rather than pinning the blame on those folks whose conditions are perhaps exaggerated, it's easy to overlook the fact the criminals in-charge of public healthcare have effectively been sleeping on their jobs when they should be tackling the problem at its root.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

And,of course i have seen that your nationality plays a part as well.I bet if the Bangladeshi was some white dude (no offence),chances were high that he would had been rushed for treatment

I can't say if the same thing happens all over Singapore, but I'm pretty sure it has not happened in the hospitals that I've visited.

I don't know what gives you this idea. I'm against anybody who judges based on nationality. Just because he's a white, it doesn't mean he has to be given higher priority, unless his injuries are more serious than the others in queue.

Even if it's true, I will still give credits to the doctors and nurses who work in public hospitals. They are the ones helping us, not the government. The government merely gave permission to set up the hospitals, and probably to expand it when more issues arise.

Its not as if there is a waiting room built to let people wait in.

There is, but I wouldn't say it applies to all hospitals. Some hospitals do have, and that's what irks me most.

Don't go saying land constraint,look at the size of SGH,when they built it,couldn't a room the size of a 3 room flat be built?

No doubt. But a hospital isn't a flat. A flat's path is wide enough for wheelchairs to go past, but not hospital beds. They need to be as spacious as possible for things to go on smoothly. Doctors and nurses aren't just rushing patients to the A&E department, they also have to wheel them out. If it's smaller than the size of a flat, I don't see how it can be moved freely without some twisting and turning.

Private hospitals may not have as much space, but the space is still reasonable big enough.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Singaporeans isn't just the problem, for as long as a problem exists, there are internal and external factors.

Internally, I won't comment. That's the hospital's issues, they sort it themselves.

Externally, there is the society and the government. While one may not agree with the government's doing, it doesn't mean we as the citizens should worsen the whole situation.

As seen, rising fees won't help in resolving such issues, rather, if everybody could play their own part, the world will be better. It takes just one person to warm the hearts of many. Look at those who have received transplants. One willingness to help out saved a life, and not just the person who received it is happy, their family members are happy too.

« Previous Page Next Page »