My sister has been suffering from severe depression and mental illness for many years (similar to Canton singer, Leslie Cheung's case) and is undrgoing treatment at IMH. Last month, due to depression, as she wasn't able to wake up from bed, she missed her doctor appointment. After Chinese New Year, given her hectic work schedules, her depression got worsen. She is not able to sleep at night and is always feeling down and hopeless in her life. As her sister, I decided to bring her to IMH today, hoping to seek immediate treatment for my sister, lest that she may resort to suicide attempt again.
We arrived IMH at 3.30 pm, after 1 hour drive from her home. At the reception, a nurse told us that without an appointment, they would have to assign a duty doctor to see my sister. We aited until nearly 5 pm, then my sister was called in to see Dr. Xiao Jun, whom I believe is from China. In less than 5 minutes, my sister came out of Dr. Xiao's room. I was bewildered as that was so quick, so I asked her if Dr. Xiao had examined her or gave her any advice. My sister told me that Dr. Xiao simply asked her to come another day to see the usual doctor who had treated her in the past, and also prescribed exactly the same medicine she had taken.
When we went to the reception to try to make an appointment for my sister, we were told that the doctor who had treated her previously, had been transferred to another hospital! And we were told that at IMH, it is a usual practice for doctors to be transferred from one hospital to another, after a 6 month rotation. It appears like my sister is like a football being kicked from one side of the field to another, when she is currently at the verge of burning out! I was even more frustrated when she received bill from the cashier, the 3-min doctor consultation by Dr. Xiao, a PRC Chinese, costs my sister $43.71!
Wow, a 3 mins treatment, or I don't even call that a treatment, costs $43.71!
That is a reap off! I wonder why IMH has to hire doctors from China, instead of offering employment opportunities to our local Singaporeans? And I wonder also if PRC Chinese doctors are qualified as it seems the way she treated my sister, is outrageously without any compassion, let alone professional at all.
If my sister, during the course of waiting for the next doctor's appointment, something happens to her, could I hold IMH liable for the consequence?
When i wrote in to them about my complaint, all I got in reply was an insincere reply with no action taken.
"Thank you for your feedback of 7 February 2014.
We would like to apologize for yours and your sister’s unpleasant service experience at our clinic. We have shared your feedback with the doctor’s Chief of Department and the staff in charge of the clinic. It is through our patients’ feedback on their experience which helps us to review and improve on the delivery of our services to patients... We hope that you and your sister will have a better service experience in the next consultation with our doctor."
Sentosa
TRS Contributor