Random thoughts: Reality check about hospitalization

Just sharing my observation. I have no bones with Govt hospitals.

I received a call from my mum that my dad has a fall and couldn't get up. I immediately ask her to call an ambulance while I rushed down from work.

The hospital allowed only 1 family member into the holding area and I have to leave my mum outside. Worried that she had no have lunch and knowing that waiting will be long, I brought her for lunch first.

I was pleasantly surprise that the X-Ray, CT scan etc were done rather quickly. Within an hour or so, I think.

I was then told that he might need an MRI too, that is when the waiting is long. I think we waited for 3 hours. 

Now, I appreciate that not all can afford private care, but reality check one:

You got concerned kins that keep complaining about the poor system and waiting time, it made the whole waiting process an headache. 

There is some miscommunication, the doc ask that my dad be sent to the ward but he was placed at the rescuitation room, which is out of bounds to family member. Jumped! Made my kin super angry. 

When he was finally out at the observation deck, I could see the place really packed like sardines.

Again, there is concern of spread of viruses at such crowded observation deck.

So the reality is not the quality of care per se but expectation of care. 

I waited till 8 p.m. And there is still no news so I went back in( I will be chase out when 15 min is up and have to re-register. I understand the rationale)

Finally, they told me my dad can be moved to the ward. 

But the worker who is supposed to push the patient up said he is on break and walked off. 

The nurse was a bit embarrassed and was trying rather hard to get someone else.

Actually I am glad that are still a few nurses which I feel really care about the patients, instead of just work. Not judging here, it is occupation hazard, I sometime treat more pupils like "subjects" to get score to fulfilled KPIs too. 

But I can imagine if it was my kin in the room, how ugly would it get. 

The doctor that came at night was different from the one that sees my dad in the morning. But I have no issue with that. 

So, there are real differences as compared to experiences at Private hospital, and expectations of kins made the equation more complicated than just money and comfort/style. 

I am actually quite happy how health care has progress in the public sector. I rememeber the days when I am in JC, almost 20 years ago, when my dad had an appt for operation in the morning but was only operated in the late afternoon. 

He was very weak and was asked to discharged one day after(third day),  and he can't even walked properly. 

I also noticed the bills jumped quite largely from B2 to B1. The difference seem to be the airconditioning.

Why am I writing all these?

Writing is therepuatic. So pardon my ratting. 

Second, when u are not in the right state of mind with anxiety of the unknown, be prepare for "unstable surroundings"

Keep calm, and relax.