I hate hospitals

There are 2 things I hate – going to the hospital and to funeral wakes. I do not have a penchant for visiting people in hospitals or going to wakes. Just seems scary. Today’s experience only make going to the hospital more detestable.

I went to see a gastroenterologist or a specialist at CGH. My first impression of the environment was that it was quiet and serene with posh, comfortable sofa chairs, LCD tvs and newspapers or magazines to read. So far so good, or so I thought.

The specialist saw me for about 10 minutes, asked me some questions, kept writing down a lot of stuff (which is good) and examined my poor tummy. He then recommended me to do 2 tests and then I went down to the other dept to fix an appt. I asked for the same day as I did not want to make a 2nd trip. Yet, I got a shock when I saw the fees payable. $500 onwards!! Granted, I was referred from a GP and not the polyclinic but isn’t $500 too much for a scan???

With doubts in my mind and feeling very pissed, I went back to the gastroenterologist. Maybe I needed the test but it still costs too much, way too much. So I told the specialist that I only wanted to do one test, the crucial test – endoscope.

However, I could tell he thought I was making a big fuss. And from the way the nurse (foreign) spoke to me. All coldness and no sense of understanding.

Nurse: The prices are expensive because you specifically asked to see Dr so and so.
Me: No, I was referred here. How would I know who to ask for?

Nurse: You need to speak to the doctor about you not doing the CT scan.
Me: Ok. Can’t I just cancel it?
Nurse: No. You need to talk to the doctor. Since you are on private status, you have to pay that amount of money.
(with a very black face)

I was extremely pissed off. So what if I was referred from a GP?? In the first place, the medical fees are darn expensive. I had to do 2 tests and the total would be $1000? Wow. And the thing is no one explained to me how much the tests cost BEFORE I went to make an appointment. Ok, I could have asked but it was my FIRST time seeing a specialist of any kind. The stupid nurse gave me this superfluous look like wondering why I behaved like I was too poor to pay. Well, I am. $1000 is crazy. I can go on a 5 day airflown holiday and back. They should also explain to me what’s going on instead of herding me off to make appointments.

Irritating, first go for consultation then make appointment then pay consultation fee then must go to pharmacy again, queue and wait and queue and wait and pay. Waste time only. I spent 3 hours there and wait half an hour to 45 minutes to pay my consultation bill!!

Why the service so bad?? The nicely renovated surroundings can never make up for the lack of understanding, patience and initiative for the patient, no matter how advanced the medical technology is!!

Why so hospital fees so exorbitant? Why go polyclinic referral must wait 3 months??? Siao.