WE ARE sorry for the anxiety Ms Jill Hum and her mother experienced ("All is not well at SGH A&E"; Forum Online, last Saturday).
Ms Hum's mother was triaged upon arrival and noted to be in a stable condition. She was prioritised accordingly and received the appropriate treatment for her hand fracture.
While hand fractures may not appear to be a critical condition, it is nonetheless an emergency, especially if the fracture is displaced and unstable, and requires casting. To ensure proper treatment, patients with fractures are referred to the Emergency Department.
For the comfort and convenience of our patients and visitors, water dispensers and vending machines are available within the premises. Our service ambassadors also provide blankets to those feeling cold from the air-conditioning. As the staff may not be aware of the patients' medical condition, provision of hot drinks may not be appropriate as it may interfere with the patients' treatment plan.
Indeed, as Ms Hum pointed out, insufficient seating at different points of care and long waiting times can affect the overall patient experience. This is especially so during peak periods, when the department usually sees a higher patient load.
Plans on expanding capacity are in the pipeline but will, however, take time. We seek our patients' and their caregivers' patience and understanding as we look into new initiatives to improve patient care and overall experience.
We wish Ms Hum's mother a speedy recovery.
Evelyn Wong (Dr)
Head, Department of Emergency Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
Ms Hum's mother was triaged upon arrival and noted to be in a stable condition. She was prioritised accordingly and received the appropriate treatment for her hand fracture.
While hand fractures may not appear to be a critical condition, it is nonetheless an emergency, especially if the fracture is displaced and unstable, and requires casting. To ensure proper treatment, patients with fractures are referred to the Emergency Department.
For the comfort and convenience of our patients and visitors, water dispensers and vending machines are available within the premises. Our service ambassadors also provide blankets to those feeling cold from the air-conditioning. As the staff may not be aware of the patients' medical condition, provision of hot drinks may not be appropriate as it may interfere with the patients' treatment plan.
Indeed, as Ms Hum pointed out, insufficient seating at different points of care and long waiting times can affect the overall patient experience. This is especially so during peak periods, when the department usually sees a higher patient load.
Plans on expanding capacity are in the pipeline but will, however, take time. We seek our patients' and their caregivers' patience and understanding as we look into new initiatives to improve patient care and overall experience.
We wish Ms Hum's mother a speedy recovery.
Evelyn Wong (Dr)
Head, Department of Emergency Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
