SG healthcare: in all instances, there is no difference in medical care of the patient

Quote:

Originally Posted by sock_min Topic: TTSH: Patient fell off the bed for his own good. Then stay in those ward when there are more nurse than patient. Of course the charges are higher.  In cheaper ward, patient may need to wait as nurses maybe busy with another patient. Some proceedire requires 2 or more nurses.

Waiting for service is one thing. Being neglected is another. In this case, safety was compromised due to lack of staff I believe.

According to singaporemedicalguide.com: 'Hospitals - Ward Classes', "There are essentially five ward classes; A, B1, B2+, B2 and C.. The reason for the difference in charges is due to the differing amenities available to the patient and also the amount of government subsidy.

SG hospital: ward classes; source

In all instances, there is no difference in medical care of the patient. The difference is in the comfort factor while hospitalized. For example, an A class patient resides in a single room with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and television available. The C class patient, on the other hand, shares a room with 7 other patients. The toilet facilities and television are also shared among all." [excerpt.pict]

The nurses per ward should be determined based primarily upon the 'medical care' needs of patients. Only where nurses are in excess should they attend to the 'comfort factor' of patients which in any case can always be provided by lesser medically trained professionals. The incident at TTSH was clearly a 'medical lapse' in care that the patient did not deserve regardless of his class of ward.

The constantly fluctuating demands on healthcare staff in the care for patients necessitate that hospitals have staff back up systems so that should a ward emergency occur, back up medical staff should always be on hand to assist in such situations.

TTSH placed its bets on the assumptions that Mr Teo would surely use the call button and that lowering the 4th cot side would ensure the safety of patients but omitted the need for adequate duty staff and staff backups, the injuries that Mr Teo sustained were the direct consequence of this risky and reckless bet.

Nobody demands that Mr Teo be given comfort in excess of what he paid for, but the quality of medical care at TTSH is certainly in question.

TTSH is thus medically liable to compensate the patient for the damages sustained as a result of the lapse in care provided by the said hospital.

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A1:
10Feb2012: TTSH: Patient fell off the bed for his own good.