Our gov constantly laude and claim we are a Medical Hub, World
Class in this or that. But are they at all aware of the level of
arrogance and incompetence in terms of HR with patients -
especially locals??
Systems here in place are perhaps efficient, but are they
intentionally made to be VOID of any human touch?
======================================================
WE DIDN'T SEND HER HOME
HOSPITAL APOLOGISES, BUT DENIES REFUSING WOMAN ADMITTANCE
By Tay Shi An
September 11, 2006
SORRY if the conduct of the nurse hurt you, the hospital told Madam
Rahimah.
A KKH spokesman said: 'We apologise if our nurse's remarks caused
Madam Rahimah and her family any distress.
--Jonathan Choo
'We have since reminded our staff to be more sensitive in their
communication with our patients and their family members, and to be
more attentive to their needs.'
Madam Rahimah was upset because she felt she was not properly
counselled or given enough explanation on what was happening to her
and her baby.
'This had never happened to us before. We didn't know what to do,'
she said.
She said a medical social worker saw her only three days
later.
'I just lost my baby - it was a big blow to me,' she said.
The day after she was discharged, she called KKH to ask for an
explanation over the way she was treated during her hospital
stay.
The hospital said it would get back to her within two weeks. It was
almost three weeks after her call that she received a letter from
the hospital. It said it needed another two weeks to
investigate.
KKH apologised for the delay.
The spokesman said the hospital has since tightened its procedures
to ensure that patients' feedback is promptly attended to.
She added: 'We empathise with Madam Rahimah's loss and extend our
deepest condolences to Madam Rahimah and her family.'
KKH noted that it had provided her with 'appropriate treatment and
medical management'.
According to its own checks, its spokesman said she had not been
'sent home' on 10 Aug but was actually offered immediate
admission.
The spokesman said Madam Rahimah and her husband turned down the
offer as they had to make childcare arrangements for their other
children.
However, even if she had been admitted straight away, KKH said the
C-section would still have taken place only the next morning.
NOT EMERGENCY CASE
Madam Rahimah was not operated on immediately as her condition was
deemed stable and she didn't need an emergency C-section, the
spokesman said.
She could not have the operation when she returned later that night
to 'ensure that more resources would be readily available should
any complication arise during the operation'.
The spokesman said: 'At the ward level, our doctors and nurses also
provided Madam Rahimah with the necessary emotional support and
when additional help was deemed to be necessary, our medical social
worker stepped in to help (her) cope.'
All patients in the hospital are accorded the same level of medical
care, she added.