I refer to the articles “Hospital bed crunch: Things to note” and “Managing the bed crunch in hospitals” (Straits Times, Jan 11).
Go to GP instead?
The former states that “Q: Given the current bed crunch, should I go to a hospital if I’m very sick?
A: If your illness can be treated by a general practitioner (GP), it might be better to see a GP. You will get treated faster.
However, if you suspect you might have a heart attack, stroke or other serious medical problem, call for an ambulance. Even if a bed is not available, doctors will attend to you immediately and begin treatment.
Q: If I have waited a long time in the Emergency Department, can I just leave before seeing a doctor? Will I be charged?
A: You may leave at any time but do let the staff know. You will not be charged. If you are at Changi General Hospital, they have a list of nearby general practitioners who can treat non-critical illnesses.”
Can choose subsidised ward?
As I understand it has been a long standing policy that referrals from a private general practitioner (GP) are not allowed to select the subsidised Class C and B2 wards or treatment in the public hospitals – can the assurance be given to Singaporeans who follow the subject advice to go to a GP – that they will not be denied admission to Class C and B2.
In this connection, I would like to refer to a recent media report about a permanent resident (PR) nurse who was admitted to a private hospital because she is an employee of the private hospital group – and was subsequently transferred to a public hospital – but was thus apparently automatically put into a Class B1 ward. Her medical bills have exceeded $100,000 and it has been reported that her corporate medical insurance plan covered about $10,000 – thus putting her family in debt as they had to resort to loans, as well as financial stress as to paying the entire bill and future medical expenses.
More day surgeries without hospital stay?
As to “By the mid-2000s, hospitals had made a major change to tackle the problem by introducing same-day admission for surgery. This saved public hospitals 17,000 bed nights a year, as previously patients had to check in the night before they were due to go under the knife”
May affect claims?
– I understand that some CPF approved medical insurance plans, private cash medical insurance and corporate employer medical insurance plans, may require a minimum of 6 hours stay in a hospital in order for the day surgery to be claimable and/or the pre and post-surgery medical fees to be claimable too.
So, what are the implications to patients as the hospital beds crunch may result in more patients who may not be able to meet the minimum 6 hours’ stay requirement?
Leong Sze Hian
