LAST Friday, I accompanied my wife to the Singapore General Hospital for an appointment at the endoscopy department.
We arrived at her appointment time of 1.30pm, and had to wait until 2.45pm before we could see a nurse to go through the pre-operation formalities. After that, we had to join another queue to wait for the doctor to be free.
It was about 5.30pm before my wife was finally released from hospital.
While the Government has been doing a lot in terms of healthcare and medical benefits, it seems to have overlooked the queueing system and long waiting time at government hospitals.
The long waiting time is a common phenomenon, and causes patients to dread going for regular treatments. Those who accompany patients also have to apply for a whole day's leave from work to do so.
Our First World healthcare system is marred by the grossly overlooked queueing system and long waiting time.
A task force should be formed to study the causes of the long waiting time and implement counter-measures to tackle the problem once and for all.
Vincent Ong Kok Lam
