Ms. Kaw Jik Hoon complained to the Straits Times forum page (24 June 2015) that her 73 years old mother slept for 4 days by the corridor because there was no bed in Tan Tock Seng’s B2 ward. For those who are not aware, B2 and C class wards are subsidised wards. A1, A2 and B1 wards are non-subsidised ward.
It was only when Ms Kaw request to have her mother discharge to go to a private hospital, the hospital ‘suddenly’ has an empty bed which her mother could move to.
My comments:
This is not the first time which patients have to sleep in the hospital other than the proper designated beds. In 8 January 2014, it was reported that Changi Hospital had to house their patients in large tent outside the hospital building. You can read the entire Straits Times article (scanned from the hardcopy) HERE. Razor TV also reported it:
In another instance, an individual by the name of Ng Yong Yao complained that his grandmother slept by the corridor in August 2014. You can read his facebook complain HERE (comes with pictures of his grandmother sleeping by the corridor).
This is the reason why it is important not to assume you can get quality care from subsidised ward. Many people asked me whether to downgrade their private integrated shield plans since it is going to be so expensive. I don’t think there is a choice here because I do not think there is sufficient evidence to show that subsidised care in Singapore is good enough.
SHOCKING UPDATE (21 July 2015): Mr. P. V. George complains that he witnessed a few patients in "C" class ward found to be dead or unconscious by relatives because nurses have many patients to tend to. See: Fit ward patients with wireless heart monitor
SHOCKING UPDATE2 (16 February 2016): Tan Tock Seng provides discount if patients are warded by the 'Class C Corridor'. No joke, the item 'Class C Corridor' appears in the hospitalisation bill. See Tan Tock Seng Hospital charged $122 for class C corridor hospitalisation
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Just like in most other 3rd world countries, life is cheap in S’pore. You want good healthcare, expert medical skills & service?? Then life is expensive.
Last year, my then 72 yrs old mom was in a corridor for a day, and 3 years ago, my then 80 yrs old aunt for 2.5 days. It’s not ideal but the nurses and doctors were just as vigilant with them as they were with patients in regular beds, no less. One can always choose to pay more to get upgraded and ensure a bed space.
There’s another option, transfer to a far, far away hospitals, like KTPH. I took my 80 yrs old aunt there for treatment, shorter queues and the environment is great.
We can’t expect things cheap and yet complain about it being not up to our super high standards.
Disagree with this point.
B2/C class ward isn’t ‘cheap’. It is just that a large portion of the fee is paid by the tax payer.
To stay along the corridor lacks privacy and decency. Nobody deserved to be treated this way. Moreover, Singapore is not a 3rd world country. Our per capital income is one of the highest. Our credit rating is AAA which is even higher than very advanced countries such as United States.