Why Some Hospital Patients Wait Hours For A Bed: What Can Be Done? | Talking Point | Full Episode

Have you waited for hours, even days to get a bed in a public hospital? Over 50 Talking Point viewers wrote in to us with their stories. Steven Chia deep dives into Singapore’s public healthcare system to investigate if our hospitals are in crisis, and what’s being done about it?
0:00 Introduction
2:00 How are waiting times calculated?
3:49 Why can’t we just add more hospital beds?
7:43 How many beds do we need?
10:42 Managing hospital beds isn't easy
16:04 One possible solution: A hospital at home?
18:27 Other radical solutions
About the show:
Talking Point investigates a current issue or event, offering different perspectives to local stories and revealing how it all affects you.
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[@edg1544]

Hey guys! I was the one who waited for 10 hrs to get a bed. I had an episode of seizure and was checked into the a&e that night. Yes it is a long wait for sure but the nurses and staffs are really trying their best to accommodate to everyone to the best of their capabilities. They are very overwhelmed but they still do their best to assist everyone. So while it can be frustrating to wait for a bed, but pls be kind to the nurses and staffs 🙏🏻

[@nikkipotter]

Oh goodness! I hope you’re doing better now! Thank you for your graciousness and understanding, we need more of you

[@tankman20064]

Normal. I also wait 12 hours but i never complain. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Covid time some wait 1 day 24 hours.

[@AnikaSharma-fx2sm]

Hey I hope u do better now

[@elsl9371]

Finallyyyy! I worked in hospital before and things will get annoyed when nok complaint waiting time and when will he/she get a bed. Stress with the calls and other tasks + forever lack of manpower. Manpower is also a serious issue here. Imagine each of the department doesn’t have enough staffs.. things get delayed and the workloads goes to the one on duty. Not hospital don’t hire, just that no one really want to work in that environment. Really need patience to work in healthcare.

[@taeru]

There are many issues, staffing of nurses, the work routine of the morning shift nurses, the multi discipline patients in a single ward where different patients are under different consultants and teams and disclipline. The different caregiver issues where some are unable to fetch their family member home, or patient has no family member at all. It's easy for bed management to look at their computer screens and also when non supportive supervisors in the ward chasing after staff to push ambulant pending discharge patients to the 'discharge lounge'. Yes it helps the system, but it does not help the staff whom are busy with the morning routines and it is not like the staffing of the ward is wonderful, where they are sitting down and waiting for patients to arrive, but instead rushing helter skelter to answer bells and patients needs. How many nursing staff did not go for a toilet break or even their tea breaks? Countless... Burnt out and disillusioned, many have left the industry and some graduating nursing students end up joining another industry!

[@thesimulatorpilot2877]

I was admitted to hospital for having abscess on my left upper thigh and I had to wait for nearly 6 hours at Ng Teng Fong hospital. Though it was a long wait, I did not complain whatsoever. I have respect for doctors and nurses

[@lowjiaming4586]

I think also need to raise awareness of primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases. Eg lifestyle changes dietary and exercise for our diabetics and hypertensive population, cessation of smoking etc. Less people with heart attacks, stroke, vascular problems, respiratory issues. These will reduce the 'inflows' into the hospital and eventually help with the bed situation of the hospitals

[@nabihbawazir8019]

It doesn't help. Chronic diseases can't be prevent, just be postponed. Society with 60-65 years of life expectancy have totally different game with 85-90 years of life expectancy

[@itsjustabigailify]

I think this is going to be a challenging one, families want the best for their loved ones with the least amount of inconvenience, and hospitalization with healthcare monitoring is much desired for most. With the bed,l human and logistical and coordination challengers (tests, exams, medication collection) its not going to be easy. I do think getting healthcare at home sounds really appealing, elderly typically dont like to stay in hospital take for example, my grandpa who is 91 in age was hospitalised but always demanded to go home. If this can scale where healthcare professionals can minimise travelling, covering a region of their convenience, that might bring potential costs down. Home caregiving is also a challenge in a family that is cash strapped and commitment to work is mandatory, letting the patient rest alone at home can be a challenge. caretaking leave might help for one off cases, but for prolonged medical attention, again, another challenge. ALL - BED CONDITIONS WILL NOT GO AWAY AND MOST LIKELY WILL GET WORSE IN THE FUTURE. MY WISH FOR ALL OF YOU IS YOU STAY HEALTHY - EAT WELL, EXCERCISE, SAVE YOURSELF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL PAIN - WE ALL DESERVE TO LIVE HEALTHY AND FRUITFUL LIVES.

[@nikkipotter]

It is indeed challenging, and more videos like this are needed to not just get the conversation started but also to motivate powerful stakeholders into action. I worked in a geriatrics unit as a junior doctor for 2 years and I definitely relate to your sentiment about some elderly folks HATING to be in hospital. With regard to being in hospital for monitoring and whether it’s the most ideal solution for each patient - it honestly really depends. We need to think about how sick the patient is, how complex the care needs are, what are we monitoring for and with new initiatives like Hospital@Home, is an acute tertiary hospital truly the best place to monitor the patient? Other alternatives like subacute care hospitals/ units and for the handful of patients waiting for nursing homes, transitional care facilities can be considered for patients who are more well

[@SkinnyManProduction]

I went to a polyclinic to see doctor. They turned me down straightaway without even seeing a doctor yet. Their reason, the number for the morning session are all given out. They ask me to come back in the afternoon to try to get a number. I could not even get a number to wait, the only choice is to come back in the afternoon to try to get a number.

[@celestialstar124]

Next time use online booking using health buddy.

[@hockchai2034]

Mandating more flexibility for working adults to provide caregiving for the ageing parents can work. However, knowing that the Gov is pro-business, I'm sure we will see workplace discrimination for caregivers, similar to mothers. I feel the most we will ever see is a bunch of "shoulds" and "encouraged to-s" addressed to the employers*, from the Gov.

[@wave9303]

these are the issues every where in the world .... more hospital , more patient , but less healthcare worker .... that why stay healthy is important

[@siewlichoo3587]

Honestly this is a super interesting episode!

[@hycdpv]

I was at TTSH earlier this year, waited for 24hr in the A&E treatment room, and all I got was a corridor bed. By the 5th day I was discharged and still haven't gotten my ward bed.

[@wumao6797]

No joke sia. I had fever and my right adornment was having a pulsating pain. After xray n blood test confirm my appendix was infected and told if it gets worse might need an emergency op. Told no wards empty so put me in one of those roller beds and park me outside under a tent in the carpark for around 10 hours. At night they push me into a ward and told me none of the rooms available so they left me along the corridor of the ward. At the end of day 2 then they finally roll me into a ward. After I got discharged I looked at my hosp bill and the cheek of them to fully charge me for all the days I stayed in the hospital even thou they have no ward for me for the first 2 days.

[@ocswoodlands]

In the meantime SG is proud that it spends way less on healthcare (as a percentage of GDP) compared to OECD countries 😅😅

[@happy1288]

:O

[@bobafett5757]

They are good at self praising but in general people know the truth

[@snowyx10mini]

Kena terrible food poisoning last year and not have ward for about 40hours... then i gave up ward and insist on go home because the experience was terrible there.

[@ericly1735]

Totally agree with you.

[@Effpy89]

A lot of parent dumping in the hospital because cheaper than getting helper / send to nursing home. Hospital full of old people treating nurses like air stewardess.

[@oterenceo]

Well, there is Woodlands Health Campus opening soon.

[@nideaquinideallabykantu]

Thanks for your video, when i stayed in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, they said i had to discharge the room exactly 2 hours after surgery and immediately told me about the extra fees per every 10 minutes of overstayed…i do believe NHS it’s much slower to take that kind of decisions because they still are more a hospital than a making money machine like Mount Elizabeth Hospital is…

[@BoppinParty]

I did colonoscopy 8-9am at Mt E Novena in dec 2022, 1 pax private day-ward, discharge was 5 hrs after procedure at 2pm. My sister did biopsy 8-9am at Mt E Orchard in nov 2023, 8 pax day-ward, discharge at 5pm. Both of us are early 30s, no complications or risk factors.

[@sihanchen7552]

Who ask u got golden pussy wanna go stay Mount E?

[@bobafett5757]

*Well done CNA Insider and Steven for this excellent documentary production the fact is just few months ago I was in the A&E department of a most famous hopsital here lying on the bed at waiting bay to be warded and I waited close to 2 days then finally was assigned a bed and that was such a horrible experience cos I was not able to shower and the food was bad and thats why I dread going to the hospital and as population growing and also ageing we need more efficient health system operation here*

[@virginiawai8485]

I am in Ontario, Canada. You people don’t know how lucky you are. In Ontario, you may have to wait in the emergency room for 7 hours before you see a doctor.

[@Awaken22]

No. The ppl here are not lucky at all. Go read some of the comments.

[@claretheworm]

@@Awaken22 the pangs of universal healthcare

[@mjmf1430]

In parts of Australia and other developed countries, patients wait for months for a bed, not hours! Count yourself lucky!

[@dexwong470]

Everyone is missing the point here. It mentioned that the waiting time also includes waiting to see the doctor. Until this is being resolve the waiting time will also be long

[@paquitoignacio3449]

I couldn’t remember this happening in u.s.a., waiting for a hospital bed, only in other countries.

[@syy_._]

grandma stayed at the ED ward for about a week and only got warded when she had to be isolated as she got COVID there :(

[@police9111]

I got admitted to ngtfh on wednesday evening. Finally on friday morning got admittted to day surgery for kidney stone removal.😢. But i love those nurses. Nurse are angels.❤

[@michaelatkinson8083]

It sounds like Singapore is facing a health crisis.

[@qilimercurial5116]

Fully respect to the nurses doctors.. they are always occupied.. must stay healthy as long as possible… try not to get medical help … it’s hard..

[@celestialstar124]

It really depends on your health conditions. I am warded REGULARLY due to my blood disorder. The max i wait is 4 hours and that only happens less than 3 times. On average i wait for 2 to 3 hours for bed. In 2023 alone i was warded 6 times.

[@g2atechmar826]

SG already crowded & not enough space to build more hospital? imagine if 10 million in a tiny island. And if GST 10%, how to eat healthy? All imported, mostly processed food, etc. Even if the young now are healthy, 30 to 40 years later, how? not enough nursing home?

[@jer2911.L]

Better to migrate to another country now to avoid the problems you posted. Can you recommend a country ?

[@g2atechmar826]

Those in change cannot solve any problems should be the ones to migrate, & so now we cannot post negative issues we are facing in SG? Might as well u also ask CNA not to report, ask them to migrate lor. 😂

[@jer2911.L]

@@g2atechmar826 Of course, as a citizen we CAN and SHOULD post negative comments. However, at the same time, we should also try to post solutions to improve our country. Otherwise, we are just like some politicians that only propose counter measures without solutions.

[@g2atechmar826]

@@jer2911.L it's pretty unlikely there will be "Solutions to improve" in these media platforms, look at the comments here. Even if have how to reach those in charge? We, the public complain, make noises... It's totally up to those HIGHLY PAID CEOs, Executives to review the situations & improve, etc! Either they take up the responsibilities or like some politicians proclaim "If anyone don't like it here, they can leave". 🤔 Anyway, you should post on the main comment section for all to see, why so personal. 😁

[@jer2911.L]

@@g2atechmar826 Nothing personal against you. I posted in response to your initial unhappy comments. Anyway, I don't think any of the complaints posted here will be read by the authorities. It's just a waste of time. There are alternative avenues to bring all your complaints and grievances to their attention. If you really want to see results, perhaps you can try to voice your complaints at meet the MP's sessions and write to relevant ministries for different complaints. It is much more effective than posting comments here. I have done it.

[@MeowIsNotaCat]

I sat in an emergency room with my partner for over 10hrs from 8plus p.m until the next morning at 9plus a.m after his traffic accident, waiting to be treated for his triple-fracture suffered on his collarbone (found out after x-ray). He had no obvious deep wounds so we were largely treated as a less severe case - he nearly fainted from the pain after trembling throughout the wait even though strong painkillers were administered. It's plain cruelty in my opinion and he was trying his best not to even whimper from the pain but I've never seen him in such agony and that experience was just plain horrid. He was pressured to check out just on the 2nd day after ops as they were "in urgent need of a bed" even though he was immobile from the extreme pain. Triple fracture + bone splinters is no joke but the hospital thinks it's more important to vacate his bed I guess. Took me an hour just to escort him slowly from his ward to the taxi stand and he howled in pain throughout the trip home with each bump the car took on the road. Most horrible experience ever.

[@FahadRazaKhan]

So sorry to hear that 😢

[@toyoyoyo104]

How is he now? Please take care.

[@bobafett5757]

Sad to hear that in fact I have experienced even worse thats why am afraid to visit any hospital here until I have left with no choice then Que Sera Sera

[@87togabito]

Sorry but, not gonna lie it doesn’t sound true. Gonna add this to a list of things that didn’t happen. No obvious deep wound = less severe= park you outside? Wa like that meningitis cardiac etc patients all GG Liao lar. Either this isn’t the full story of the diagnosis which might explain why an extended warding isn’t necessary, or it’s a complete fabrication.

[@xxs0ulxx1]

what would you like the hospital to do? stay longer so he can be served painkillers every few hours? how is he immobile when his injury is over his collar bone and not his legs. sounds like u are overdramatizing his condition. it's family members like YOU who contribute to the problem by refusing to get discharged.

[@ongalex6548]

Encourage people to eat healthy from young. When old get less health problem. Hence avoid hospitalization. Does school teaches what food is consider healthy in the long term and what are the consequence when health worsen during old age?

[@carmyf7296]

From what I can see, there are actually much more variety of junk food available to young people these days as compared to the older generation and more younger people are getting illnesses usually older people get.

[@Whatexactlyispeace]

It is a conundrum. On one hand, we are encouraged to support and preserve our hawker culture but on the other hand we are told to cut sodium, sugar, calories etc. Let’s be honest, your typical hawker food are the worst kind of meals to eat. They are comparable to fast food with the high levels of sodium. Your typical bowl of mee rebus/ mee Soto exceeds the daily intake for sodium . The innocent looking plain prata is 400 calories with little to no nutrition.

[@cw8]

Schools n MOE already restrict what ingredients and style of cooking canteen operators can use in their food. Doesn't stop kids from going out of school to get bubble tea, snacks, fast food etc. In fact, it encourages them to go out of school and get unhealthy food.

[@cw8]

@@Whatexactlyispeace No choice, only hawker food is affordable these days. Can't copy with rising cost of living. You can always go for healthier hawker food like Fish Soup

[@sihanchen7552]

You will get sick eventually and have to go to the hospital no matter how healthy u eat alright?

[@theblue2352]

The greying population is hugely subsidise by the govt and this drive the behaviour towards govt restructure hospitals. This leave less beds as this elderly group tend to stay longer than the young ones. That's why need to buy insurance that can cover private hospitals. Cause no subsidies are provided in private hospitals and nurses and doc in rivate hospitals is able to give more care and attention to the patients. I'm not advocating everyone going for private but with such trends, private hospitals need to be consider seriously if anyone admitted into hospitals.

[@LolPop-ig4pf]

I think a problem also is unnecessary warding of ppl. I went to the hospital cos of overdose scare, turns out everything in normal levels. But i was still admitted to a ward, and have to pay a lot of unnecessary stuff like day charge etc;. I think they should also let ppl go home if its not a serious issue.

[@karenchua9099]

Singapore got the money build another big, hugh hospital in one of the nearby island.

[@lamedada]

Yeah.... Younger patient they send home faster and state that hospital is not really sterile and better for me to recuperate at home. My chest was cracked open during surgery but I was only hospitalized for 3 days. Even my husband is shocked thinking shouldn't I be at least in hospital for a week. It's NUH.

[@freedcrypto]

I have private insurance but still have to wait (government insurance will even take days). Just avoid hospitals that are packed imo

[@sarahrean7174]

even in France we have the same pb

[@just1ed]

The issue is not just with numbers. The doctors are not triaging patients well. They are admitting patients who do not need to be admitted. There are also more sick patients because the population is getting more stressed and poor people flood to hospitals instead of GPs because you can avoid paying hospital bills on the spot and just owe money. It’s the C class wards that are always flooded. There’s also too much paperwork and inefficiency within the hospital system and departments, so a lot of time is wasted. The management needs to be overhauled instead of pushing the work down to the working staff.

[@lainpadang8033]

This is real. We were told (ca 9pm) that we need to wait until 11am next day when some patients discharge to get a bed. By luck we got it within 4 hours, this was last year November ⅔¹¹⅔

[@mohdafifiarif8409]

'Prevention better than cured' 😅

[@SingZeon48]

Hi CNA Insider. Yet another insightful episode produced. Several people were interviewed in this episode. In chronological order - members of public, Dr Jason Yap, Prof David Matchar, Sai Aung Lin, Jeremy Lee, MDT (including Dr Jonathan Ong and APN Lucinda Tay), Dr Stephanie Ko and Dr Jeremy Lim. I noticed that not all interviewees had subtitles - there were none for Prof Matchar, Dr Ko and Dr Lim. The MDT discussion had subtitles, but not the interview with Dr Ong and APN Tay. Was there any underlying reasoning behind this inconsistency? I personally felt all interviewees' spoken English were fluent, albeit with varying degrees of accent. If subtitles were for accessibility (i.e. hard-of-hearing audiences), shouldn't subtitles be added on for all interviewees, and even the host? 🤔 The procedure Dr Lim used as an example at the end was laparoscopic cholecystectomy for removal of gallbladder. Yet, the diagram pinned to the whiteboard, right beside Steve's face, was depicting uterine artery embolisation which is for removal of uterine fibroids. The diagram was also present on the table when Dr Lim was sat down. Was the diagram meant to be relevant to the scenario, or was it used more as a prop for the scene? 😄 Dr Lim wrote stuff down on the whiteboard in blue ink (with a blue marker) and was constantly gesturing with a whiteboard marker in his hand. Throughout the ~4 minutes, however, the marker colour was constantly changing between black and blue. This is despite Dr Lim not writing anything in black - at least nothing that was shown on the board. Was this an inadvertent lack in continuity, or was this a deliberate Easter egg for viewers? 😉

[@lotus108able]

Wow..shift blame to housekeeping / bed mgmt 😅 It’s always easier to come up with “excuses” to explain current situation

[@orlieoctoso7478]

some patients insist to be admitted despite their illness can be manageable at home

[@tankman20064]

I fever till 41. I also want to go home. Wait at home more comfort

[@TheFactWhisperer]

claim insurance

[@jen5138]

I can guarantee that is true. One of my sister's patients admitted cos of constipation. Like what the heck?! Constipation also insist to admit. Wasting precious resources..

[@police9111]

More hospitals more manpower needed. 😊

[@k.k.c8670]

Open a makeshift hospital in Ridout.

[@gyeang]

Hi Tks saw this n I wanna share my crazy experience too. Now still in CGH. Got admitted on 23rd Nov. Was told too there wasn’t any bed at all so had been sleeping on a sofa chair at the corridor. Had a fall. It was a blessing in disguise I had that fall coz immediately I was told there’s a bed for me. Thought someone just checked out but went to this ward and saw that there were more than 1 empty bed available. What’s going on! Got beds available but said no beds. 1. What the hell! Got twice interrogated by that night’s young Dr. accusing me that I had secretly brought and took my own medications without informing them hence I had the fall. My answer twice was not accepted. Dr.even went to the extent of searching my backpack. Found nothing then left. What is this? I form own conclusion since I fell under their nose, hospital now fears if I suffered further cos of that fall, hospital is worried I sue the hospital. I may be wrong in my judgment but who knows what the hospital Dr was thinking then. It also gave me the impression that the Dr was trying to shed responsibility and trying to push the blame to me. Cut the story short. CGH now does not have anyone similar to Florence Nightingale but plenty Florence Nigtmares. Terrible service. Those can’t speak or understand simple English should not be nureses. What happens if asked for A but was given B. Twice foreign nurse misunderstood what I said/asked for. OMG! My stay may be entented to Monday or Tuesday. Dr was supposed to explain my CT Scan to me yesterday after 5pm but now is already next day and there’s no sign of Dr n no explanations why Dr. never came. I’m so fed up already and told myself to just keep my cool n treat this as a staycation just not to upset myself. I am at ward 48. Bed 44. Anyone wanna come interview me can pls come. Just didn’t know what to do n clicked into CNA and Tk goodness saw this post. Tks.

[@celestialstar124]

As someone born with blood disorder n someone warded multiple times a year... The hospital do reserved a section of bed for people like me. I wasn't refer by A&E like others but usually via my blood specialist team or gyne. 1 period can cause me to black out from blood loss. My blood count is dangerously low most of the time. I was admitted via A&E 3 times and all 3 times it took a much longer waiting time n the ward given is different from my blood specialist route. The A&E route wasn't as great as my specialist route too.

[@zitinglim6960]

Able to increase bed capacity but able to get the manpower ?

[@sujataliewable]

Thank you CNA for shedding light on this complexities of the hospital bed situation in Singapore. As a medical doctor working in the public hospital, I think about discharge planning from the time a patient arrives in the A&E. Discharge planning is a collaborative effort between the medical team, nurses, allied health professionals but not forgetting, patients/families themselves. Opening more hospitals could be a solution, but if we aren't able to amp up our manpower strength in the public healthcare setting, these additional hospitals won't be able to provide the stated care it's expected to.

[@wangjinwen7708]

This is like another ways to tell you they reject you patient. Otherwise You just got wait patiently. I gave up waiting at sengkang a&e once. There was once i waited from midnite until 6am the next morning. They completely forgotten me

[@police9111]

It takes 30mins to clean and disinfect 1 bed before the patient admitted. Housekeeper have to do at least 10 beds daily.

[@wangjinwen7708]

Waiting like universal studios. Hospital got to stop taking so much funding and medical fees so so much less quality services

[@fishingbanhock]

7hrs waiting time is actually very fast. 2019 When my mom had a fall and fractured her hip, it took around 1day waiting

[@Azel247]

Nightmare for the patients, but I can't imagine how busy it must be to work there too! It's obviously not just a space or inflow issue... you can build a million hospitals but who are you going to hire to take care of the people?

[@heroheng3840]

So in a nutshell There is no solution at all for the waiting game. Guess we all just had to deal with it yeah, It quite funny that all talking point videos always ends up with no solution at all and just simply use life hacks to make it a little more efficient for us lol.

[@emalejack]

To get a hospital referral from polyclinic it could take 3-6 months sometimes a years for dental……I don’t see the light to it and it could become worst as we are more crowded with a aging society! Don’t forget we are getting more foreigner in our country and few years ago someone suggested to have a 10 millions population 😂

[@City-of-Hong-Kong]

Without more foreigners your economy will tumble and you will be left with no money. Who do you think is paying for your pension money. Lol.

[@misssometing]

It really depends on your medical condition. I got a fast-track referral to a public hospital for my medical condition and I get to see a specialist the following week. And pushing the bed waiting problem to foreigners is unwise because the rich foreigners are at private hospital, while those migrant workers are contributing to Singapore and they have the right to accessible healthcare too.

[@celestialstar124]

@@misssometing yes you are right it really depends on the individual health conditions. Fast track or normal track are given.

[@ivanlimzg]

10m population...

[@bigno1900]

MOH MP say bed will never be enough no matter how much they add 😆

[@CliffordLee-hh2hm]

If Singapore still imports more foreigners, buckets need to be added. Why not use the UK 4 hours wait time as a bench and stop importing foreigners once the wait time is breached?

[@kokchaitan7209]

Keyholes surgery is only one cm.cut and be discharged immediately. Open cut and sew surgery is 12 cm.cut . Longer stay in bed and discharged many days later . So Keyholes is a solutions. Thanks

[@aztan2819]

Singapore is so rich, Why wouldnt they build a few more hospital to overcome these issuse? They will earn for sure also. No loss

[@norman6499]

20 years ago, almost all chinese parents want their kids to be doctor. Only in adulthood then i see how depressing the healthcare environment is a place to work.. Doctor is a nice name to have but not a nice position to work as.

[@BlueMilkTea443]

As a nurse myself all i can really say is, there is really no bed at all! 😂😂 The whole wards building is full house so we can do what? Lol. Unless u know, we could just follow like in india, we can placed patients on the mat at the floor then otherwise i dont think there is other way out then..

[@user-18r9es7tt3]

How to ensure citizens and PRs get priority over foreigners? Foreigners shd go to private hospitals.

[@JL-jm7]

Why can’t patients and their families takes their annual leave to take care of the parents instead of increasing more care leave? What about the impact at the work place n businesses

[@wyliem]

10 hrs in the us is nothing

[@megantan89]

24+ years ago in Kk Hosp I already have to wait for a bed to give birth to my elder son back then. At that time I was experiencing labour pain but still have to wait ..what to do? No bed to give birth 😂

[@user-zw5le4lw3o]

So blamed it on the one that came up the idea of stop at 2.

[@Kimmi7581]

So much for a first world nation. SG is overrated.

[@user-lx1kq6lj2x]

These days everything has increased in cost. The person interviewed still can suggest patients to bear more of the medical cost instead of the insurers. Then what’s the point of paying premium in the first place.

[@kokchaitan7209]

Use double decked beds to admit more patients. Use relatives instead of nurses. Use A.I. and no hawkers foods.

[@SK-lt1so]

You get what you pay for! Easy

[@Awaken22]

The expert who demo by pouring water into the jugs suggested that SG would become a hospital country if we keep adding beds or hospitals to meet medical needs?, It seems to make sense, until I question the narrative, "Are we supposed to become a mall / condominium / attraction country then, when our fellow citizens are dying or suffering due to a lack of medical care?" We should question assumptions ppl, and start to re create the singapore that we know we need. If we are too passive or dormant even in re-thinking Singapore's identity and story so far, then we are truly doomed. We can do something. Start by questioning your assumptions and the stories fed to you.

[@dkj6946]

Hope Ong Ye Kung and his team are watching this

[@irwanibrahim96]

Didnt expect SG to have 3rd world country problem😮

[@mohamadnorharon3620]

shameful of Spore. is this really a develop country.

[@wangjinwen7708]

Doesnt makes sense.. millions and billions of funding every year.. and rising cost of medical. Still like that..

[@ChuChuAndAhBa]

LMAO...... Only ten 10 hours...... I waited 2 and 1/2 days for my hospital bed and that is my longest record.

[@rbc812]

Government is sleeping.

[@lotus108able]

If the population / aging patients are increasing..why not the no. of hospital beds! 😡

[@feliciasuharja4466]

Are you willing to take a part in working those extra hospital beds..? With those extra emotional baggage and stress and entitlement the family's patient could spew out to you..? And those older people 'daycare' thing when long holiday comes..? Please have a look on the medical worker point of view. Thank you.

[@lotus108able]

@@feliciasuharja4466well u just highlighted another serious problem in healthcare everywhere i.e In not attracting enough medical staff

[@ly9610]

Hospital bed numbers are increasing. Just not fast enough to meet the never ending increasing demand.

[@lotus108able]

⁠@@ly9610never ending because???? The crunch happened out of the blue???

[@ly9610]

@@lotus108able 1) population is growing 2) population is ageing 3) system does not yet support, and in fact incentivises, people to go to A&E for non-urgent care eg insurance, leave entitlements, social issues (as covered in this video)

[@tankman20064]

8 hours to 9 hours. Maybe wait 1 week or 2 weeks better.

[@arcencielc2065]

Don't be a frog living in a well. Open your eyes wide to see the healthcare facilities around the world. Be grateful for what we have in Singapore. While it is not the best of the best all the time, we are fine. Don't take for granted what we have in Singapore. All of us must do our part - don't go to hospital A&E unless it is for an emergency, show moral support to the healthcare workers, live an active lifestyle to prevent illness, etc.

[@gotmyonu1027]

Lets see if the GST 9% will make our Hospital better and more efficient.

[@user-18r9es7tt3]

Did MOH collate statistics on the profile & trend of patients seeking admission? What is the percentage of foreigners? Is there an increasing trend of foreigners (non citizens/PRs)? Patients from countries with poor medical care may be flooding in.

[@SingZeon48]

If you are referring to foreigners who come to Singapore solely to seek medical treatment, i.e. fly in -> see doctor -> fly back, these people are affluent enough to go straight to private hospitals with VIP rooms and whatnot, should they require admission. So they skip the long waiting time of public hospitals, but at the same time they don't contribute to it either. They are using a completely separate resource (private healthcare). As for foreigners who are resident in Singapore (e.g. for work, study) but require medical treatment along the way, whilst they are 'adding' to the wait times, I see them as equivalent to locals in that they are 'in' Singapore. Whether these numbers are too high, that is related more to manpower policy, when they decide on whether to grant their work permit / study permit or not.

[@SpecJack15]

@@SingZeon48 Exactly, if such medical travelers can afford flying here despite their existing conditions, they won't be fighting with locals for stay in public hospitals.

[@gbce3]

But then moving forward does anyone have confidence in the 4G government to solve this issue?

[@edwardlumsianming3430]

When eveyone pick SUBSIDIES TREATMENT AND BEDS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. NOTHING NEW

[@rylee4383]

It's the prcs in hospital.

[@Whatexactlyispeace]

Frankly speaking, I myself have stayed in hospital despite not having to. The issue? Insurance. In order for me to claim for my hospitalization, I’m required to stay overnight in the hospital.

[@fizziclekombucha]

Sg hospital services aren’t intuitive. I’ve seen my late grandma and her Indonesian helper struggle. There’s just endless queuing from counter to counter, in an overly protocol and procedure driven environment lacking in human touch. There’s no holistic care in our hospitals at all.

[@oerg]

The conclusion is so dumb. The problem is with the population, not the number of beds. STOP GROWING THE POPULATION!

[@bobafett5757]

*By the world standard A&E patient should be given a bed within 4 hours and be warded*

[@AW-tc4hy]

This happens because nurses are used to do meagre tasks that could be done by layperson. In the old days, lots of ah ma running errands for bedridden patients, now it’s done by nurses. Stupid government, people trying to milk the system for higher fees.

[@dolphin1975]

I waited for 2 days before I got a bed at CGH. And i stayed a month plus due to covid vaccine. The bed turn over is very fast. The ward is always filled. Been the longest serving patient in the ward, I would say the nurse love to torture me. Gladly I am excused from all vaccine and hopefully don’t hv anymore staycation

[@Criminelsoyeux]

they wanted capitalism, deal with it.

[@kengleetan63]

Did you locals not voted for this? 10 million or more coming. So 10 hrs is still way too short, BE PREPARED FOR A FEW DAYS WAIT!😆😆😆😆😆

[@JojoBoy-gh4gb]

To do that stupid water bucket demo, you created a mess and spearhead Dengue , creating more demand for hospital veds

[@LindntN]

Why don't A&E doctors question the mgmt? How many areas of the hospital are used as wards? I know TTSH has close to the entire level 1 for F&B and gifts shops when it has U Square, Novena Sq + Velocity right opp. SKH has a fitness center for who? We have so many floors in every hospital, how many are used as wards, what are the ratio of common wards to individual wards?From the mass of replies here, people generally do not go to hospitals unless they need to, so don't just blame people for going to hospital.

[@misssometing]

so what if you have an entire level reserved for wards or A&E when there are insufficient healthcare workers? it's not about expanding the space. it's about the educating the public that they do not need to go to A&E when their conditions are not critical, and delaying treatment for other people with critical conditions. This is the cruz of the issue that we need to address. And sometimes, the retail space can help patients' caretakers families to take a break or have some breathing space.

[@Awaken22]

​@@misssometingare you kidding me? The relatives need the space for a breather? Read the comments. The relatives are worried sick about their loved ones not getting a ward. The function and role of the hospital is treatment.

[@Awaken22]

@LindntN you are right. Yet you only get 4 votes. This breakdown in logic and reason in sg is at the root of all these pain. We have lost our clear-headedness in the midst of conformity.

[@tankman20064]

8 hours can wait. Bo food how ? Hungry till faint meh ? Can order grabfood bo ?

[@kongwee1978]

Food given in hospital.

[@tankman20064]

​@@kongwee1978not even filling. Try already. After eat more hungry. Got gastic pain people not advise to go. Hunger to death

[@jer2911.L]

@@tankman20064 All hospitals got kopitiam selling tasty food.

[@tankman20064]

​@@jer2911.Lyou check in time. Cannot go leh. A&E time. Hungry waiting. 4 hours can lah. 10 hours no food same same fasting liao. Training meh ? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jer2911.L]

@@tankman20064 You can always ask whoever accompany you to buy the food for you. If you are alone, ask any person at the A&E. Singaporeans are quite helpful. I have done it. Nothing is impossible. Cheers

[@tankman20064]

Can go home rest first ? And wait for bed bo ? Give me some pills can liao. You got bed than call me lah. Or else i rest at home my bed better. 8 hours no food. No meals. Wow liao hungry leh

[@tankman20064]

Sg hospital and Gaza hospital. Almost same nowdays. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Only different is Sg hospital still got supply for medical. But same like gaza hospital crowded. 😂😂😂😂😂3

[@garen591]

Hey Steven. The more pertinent question to ask is WHY the heck are there an exponential increase of patients to be hospitalised when covid is essentially over globally? Ask the real questions, are these patients directly or indirectly caused by vaccine injuries?

[@christinesung8884]

Pretty sure people visit A&E for so many reasons... Ageing population - many health issues, chronic illnesses, etc. Accidents - from the road, homes, fire, break arm/leg, etc. Fish bone stuck in throat or things stuck in any body holes, etc. Unknown illnesses/diseases not detected until unusual symptoms appear and got serious, etc.

[@SingZeon48]

Did you even bother to watch the full programme before commenting? If so, you would have got your answer at 05:25 - ageing population means more require admissions, yet fewer are able to discharge every day (longer lengths of stay). As you said, corona is 'essentially over'. Time to move on instead of harping onto 'vaccine injuries'. I'm not denying that there are people who have suffered varying degrees of adverse reactions due to the vaccine. But to bend over backwards and try and link everything ('ask the real questions') to it, is just laughable.

[@anggasurbakti8269]

What is this vaccine injuries? Also covid is not over, people still got it especially if they don't vaccinated and they still roomed in different wing. The amount is much reduced since so many people already vaccinated and some people still wearing mask outside

[@Awaken22]

You are right. Yet you only got 2 votes. The cause of the issue such as "other external factors" mentioned in the video is not looked into..or perhaps the cause is the prevailing number of Covid19 induced sicknesses as well. We just don't have enough data to know what is going on, thus the problem will only remain and worsen.