If only all hospitals treat us similarly - FREE

[Hishercar]

Letter to forum

 

Here's what Alexandra Hospital did

 

 

 

MY AUSTRALIAN friend and her family visited Singapore last year and during their stay on Sentosa island, one of their three children was scalded in a restaurant. She was immediately taken to Alexandra Hospital where the nurses took care of her just as swiftly. The hospital dispensed with bureaucratic requirements like insisting on passport details which impressed my Australian friend. Her gratitude increased when she saw that the hospital's priority was to treat her scalded daughter.

After treatment, we proceeded to settle the bills but the cashier replied that there was no charge. My Australian friend was amazed, and I was proud as a Singaporean. Minor gestures make a world of difference. It matters even more when we are but a little red dot. My Australian friends have only wonderful things to say about Singapore and those in Alexandra Hospital made it happen.

 

So, I am disappointed that Singapore General Hospital (SGH) insisted on collecting a mere $90 from Mr Filip Lou, despite his heroism. Ironically, its insistence has turned out to be a stiff price to pay for insensitivity.

 

I hope SGH will follow Alexandra Hospital's lead and learn a thing or two from this small hospital with a big heart.

 

Cindy Lim (Ms)

 

[Ender]

Seriously I question why the tourist were given free medical treatment? They are tourist, i.e not poor or on welfare.

 

I can only guess that the medical expense could already been covered by the restaurant that scading incident happened.

[Sparks]

Strange, why the double standards? Both are government hospitals right?

 

Maybe Ender is right, the restaurant settled the bill. I believe the restaurant has some public indemnity insurance to cover them. But if the children were to be scalded because of their own negligence and not caused by the restaurant, then no reason why the restaurant would pay for them.

Edited February 20, 2009 by Sparks

[Hishercar]

if you read careful

 

the fee is waived

 

and not pre-paid

 

why should they give the tourist free

 

 

when we locals have to undergo mean testing

 

 

I wonder if circumcision requires mean testing

[Ruzmidah]

I think the bill will come to their house.

 

I doubt the treatment was free. Maybe the writer misunderstood the counter lady.

[Application9999]

potential FT so use this attract them to come to Singapore lor

Edited February 20, 2009 by Application9999

[Sosaria]

The hospital today just clarified in ST Forum that the treatment was paid for lah. By Sentosa itself. Actually when I read the first forum letter I already suspected this in my mind. The foreigner, after all, was scalded in a restaurant on the island. For sure somebody's gonna have to foot the bill or risk getting sued, etc. Obvious! Doh!!

 

I hope that forum letter writers will use their brain filters first before writing such things...

Edited February 21, 2009 by Sosaria

[Lala81]

i tot we all know nothing in SG is for free ? :P

[David]

  On 2/20/2009 at 2:53 PM, Hishercar said:

if you read careful

 

the fee is waived

 

and not pre-paid

 

why should they give the tourist free

 

 

when we locals have to undergo mean testing

 

 

I wonder if circumcision requires mean testing

 

I refer your reply to Ender above, the fee is not waived nor pre-paid. Neither was there a free treatment given to the tourist. The tourist was not charged for anything when they attempted to pay. Why are you putting words into Ender's reply?

[David]

  On 2/21/2009 at 2:33 AM, Sosaria said:

The hospital today just clarified in ST Forum that the treatment was paid for lah. By Sentosa itself. Actually when I read the first forum letter I already suspected this in my mind. The foreigner, after all, was scalded in a restaurant on the island. For sure somebody's gonna have to foot the bill or risk getting sued, etc. Obvious! Doh!!

 

I hope that forum letter writers will use their brain filters first before writing such things...

 

For a start, the letter writer should not have hold back any relevant informations.