（From a blog posting by Jane Lim 25-12-2012 ）
A friend’s late father passed away in KTPH on 23/10/2012. After
settling the funeral matters, the son Mr F handed me a Bed Sore Mattress
(for preventing Bed Sores) used by his late father, to be given to any
needy persons.
Mr F told me that during the period when his late father was warded,
the hospital rented a Bed Sore Mattress to him. The daily rental fees
were $10. Mr F asked the hospital if he could buy one such mattress so
that he would not need to pay for the rental fees, and it could be used
at home even after the patient was discharged. The hospital replied that
he would not because these were only for rental, and the price per set
was costly (over $1000 each) and there was only one known supplier in
Singapore.
Mr F made a lot of enquiries and finally found a vendor. He bought a
set of Bed Sore Mattress which was ten times cheaper for his late father
to use in place of the one rented from the hospital. Mr F happily
approached the hospital but they declined his request. The reason given
was that if the next of kin were to use their own Bed Sore Mattress, the
hospital’s electricity would be over-loaded. However, Mr F has the
knowledge and rebutted the excuses given by the hospital. Eventually,
the hospital had softened the tone, but gave a condition that the vendor
MUST send a technician to conduct a demo before they were allowed to
install it. This had puzzled the vendor and requested a recall and
refund as it was so troublesome to make this sale.
After much negotiation, the hospital finally gave way and Mr F was
able to let his late father use the Bed Sore Mattress he bought in the
hospital ward without having to summon for the technician.
I handed over Mr F’s Bed Sore Mattress to a Mr Tan (78 years old),
was has been bed-ridden for 3 years. I confirmed with Mrs Tan that the
hospital in which Mr Tan is warded (St. Luke Hospital) allows patients
to use their own Bed Sore Mattresses in the ward. Renting one from the
hospital would also cost $10 daily.
I did some research on the internet, and got the following
information hoping to help patients and family members lighten the
medical expenses:-
Medical Anti Bed Sore Mattress Pad System , Changing air pressure improves circulation…
Sells for $165
Season Sale Price: $135.00
Today is 25/12/2012 Christmas Day. Perhaps for many of us it is
holiday mood. However, some patients who are warded and their family
members are worrying about medical fees. Perhaps…. MOH and KTPH
could give us an answer: Why are they not putting patient’s well-being
as top concerns, but instead mislead patient’s family members and
cooperate with vendors of expensive medical equipment?
A friend’s late father passed away in KTPH on 23/10/2012. After
settling the funeral matters, the son Mr F handed me a Bed Sore Mattress
(for preventing Bed Sores) used by his late father, to be given to any
needy persons.
Mr F told me that during the period when his late father was warded,
the hospital rented a Bed Sore Mattress to him. The daily rental fees
were $10. Mr F asked the hospital if he could buy one such mattress so
that he would not need to pay for the rental fees, and it could be used
at home even after the patient was discharged. The hospital replied that
he would not because these were only for rental, and the price per set
was costly (over $1000 each) and there was only one known supplier in
Singapore.
Mr F made a lot of enquiries and finally found a vendor. He bought a
set of Bed Sore Mattress which was ten times cheaper for his late father
to use in place of the one rented from the hospital. Mr F happily
approached the hospital but they declined his request. The reason given
was that if the next of kin were to use their own Bed Sore Mattress, the
hospital’s electricity would be over-loaded. However, Mr F has the
knowledge and rebutted the excuses given by the hospital. Eventually,
the hospital had softened the tone, but gave a condition that the vendor
MUST send a technician to conduct a demo before they were allowed to
install it. This had puzzled the vendor and requested a recall and
refund as it was so troublesome to make this sale.
After much negotiation, the hospital finally gave way and Mr F was
able to let his late father use the Bed Sore Mattress he bought in the
hospital ward without having to summon for the technician.
I handed over Mr F’s Bed Sore Mattress to a Mr Tan (78 years old),
was has been bed-ridden for 3 years. I confirmed with Mrs Tan that the
hospital in which Mr Tan is warded (St. Luke Hospital) allows patients
to use their own Bed Sore Mattresses in the ward. Renting one from the
hospital would also cost $10 daily.
I did some research on the internet, and got the following
information hoping to help patients and family members lighten the
medical expenses:-
Medical Anti Bed Sore Mattress Pad System , Changing air pressure improves circulation…
Sells for $165
Season Sale Price: $135.00
Today is 25/12/2012 Christmas Day. Perhaps for many of us it is
holiday mood. However, some patients who are warded and their family
members are worrying about medical fees. Perhaps…. MOH and KTPH
could give us an answer: Why are they not putting patient’s well-being
as top concerns, but instead mislead patient’s family members and
cooperate with vendors of expensive medical equipment?
