Why merry-go-round for SGH appointment?
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ST Forum 7 Nov 2006
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW was referred to Singapore General Hospital in March for nerve problems.
After a scan and x-ray she was given a follow-up appointment in May.
The doctor told her that it was the pinching of nerves and nothing much could be done at that stage to treat her.
We were told that she could call to make an appointment if her condition worsened within two years.
Recently she complained of a tingling sensation in her left hand. About two weeks ago, I called the hospital and was given an appointment on Dec 20.
Since then I had called the hospital thrice to get an earlier appointment in case another patient cancelled his. I had no luck in this.
On Oct 31, my mother-in-law complained of numbness in her index finger. On Nov 1, I called the clinic again and was told the next available appointment was on Dec 27.
And if I couldn't wait until then I should take her to the A&E department despite my plea that it would not be able to do much except to refer me back to relevant doctor.
I had no choice but to proceed to the A&E department, a place where I thought we should go to only in an emergency.
True enough, the doctor there told me that my mother-in-law should see her specialist again.
Her condition is not so severe that it requires immediate attention but then it cannot be ignored for too long.
I was at the hospital by 10.15am and left at 11.45am. Total cost: $80. The diagnosis : Refer patient back to her doctor in two weeks on Nov 16.
My questions to the relevant authorities are:
1. Do I have to go on a merry- go-round just to get an earlier appointment?
2. Do I have to spend $80 for this?
3. Spend an hour and a half to do this?
4. Doesn't this contradict all that had been said and done to free our Accidents and Emergency department for precisely what the name specifies?
Please help me as I am quite disillusioned.
Balbinder Kaur (Mdm)
I thought somebody mentioned that this will not happen in Singapore?
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it happened to me...
i was in severe pain from a slipped disc 2 months ago.. if i followed the appointment dates, i'd still be awaiting my appointment in Jan or Feb 2007
medical hub?
my ass... -
this happens every other day in singapore.....
refer here refer there......wait here wait there.......this one chargeable, that one chargeable........ -
actually, i don't mind if they charge me a nominal fee or something if they can do something about, say, my case where extreme pain from a slipped disc or the pain in the case of a trapped nerve (i've suffered that before too.. it's not funny how painful and nauseating the feeling is)
but it's ludicrous to tell a person who is in so much extreme pain that he cannot even sit down that he has to wait 3 months to be treated after being referred everywhere and nothing can be done...
for cases like the trapped nerve and slipped disc, no doctor will do anything because there is potential for severe and worse damage if they do something wrong so they are forced to refer the matter to the specialists..
unfortunately, you can't blame the specialists too.. they are swamped with patients and can barely cope with the load...
maybe the "medical hub" bit is for the "elite".. those who can afford a king's ransom in order to be treated immediately, those who can walk into a place like Gleneagles...
however, how many of us working hacks can?
i'd be bankrupted if i went to Gleneagles for treatment for my back problem... -
backdated appointments like this quite common in specialist clinics of hospitals.
sigh.
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oh.. gotta add.. i went to the A&E at NUH... there is a dusty sign there that says "Waiting time approx 2 1/2 hours"
but that was pretty accurate.. i was squirming in agony on the wheelchair for 2 1/2 hours
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if you think your condition is serious, just go to a&e. i found out (the hard way) that being admitted means every test to be done is faster. as long u got insurance cover, just go for a b2 plus or b1 ward and your medical problem looked at.
if you leave it to outpatient, it would take eons for anything to be done. btw, you can actually request to talk to your doc over the phone. i have done that a few times with my specialist (they gave me the wrong meds and i nearly got admitted again ). Just tell them wat you wan, usually they are ok. -
That doesnt apply to the common peopleOriginally posted by LinYu:I thought somebody mentioned that this will not happen in Singapore? 
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This is SINGAPORE. A country that most of the time play so called Merry-Go-Round. Well, mayb u have entered the A&E then they charged you so ex for their so called consultation.
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I've been in and out of hospital for many times over the last 15months but didn't encounter such problems at SGH.
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what were you in there for?Originally posted by photo_seeker:I've been in and out of hospital for many times over the last 15months but didn't encounter such problems at SGH.
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Has things changed? I have not gone to a specialist for about 5 years, but previously it never took more than 2 weeks to fix an appointment to see him.
A true problem has arisen if suddenly healthcare requirements of our aging population has suddenly surged and we lack the capacity to cover all our citizens. Will we see our own Singaporeans go offshore for healthcare needs? -
Wasn't there an earlier case about a patient also being given the runabout? It was not answered to my knowledge by the hospital concerned?
Or kanna rejected by ST?
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the first time i suffered a slipped disc was 10 years ago, and the appointment to see the orthopaedic specialist was about 3 days later.. and i wasn't in so much pain, it was the numbness in my leg that was freaking me out.. it wasn't so urgent as my last relapse 2 months ago...
and the healthcare requirements hasn't so much increased as the population probably has increased without the equal increase of caregivers... besides, we're all exhorted to work harder and increase productivity.. i think hospitals and doctors are also made to "increase productivity"
dare we increase the population when healthcare is already like this?Originally posted by pwnz0r:Has things changed? I have not gone to a specialist for about 5 years, but previously it never took more than 2 weeks to fix an appointment to see him.
A true problem has arisen if suddenly healthcare requirements of our aging population has suddenly surged and we lack the capacity to cover all our citizens. Will we see our own Singaporeans go offshore for healthcare needs? -
i am so scared to be sick now...