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5-hour wait at A&E: Eye doc was attending to ICU emergency, says SGH
Posted on 23 Jul 2010
STOMPer Stanley's unfortunate five-hour wait at the Accidents and Emergency (A&E) department on Jul 6 was because the eye specialist on call was attending to an emergency case in the Intensive Care Unit, says a Singapore General Hospital (SGH) spokesperson.
STOMPer Stanley had been referred to SGH's A&E department for his eye infection. His eyes became very uncomfortable while waiting, and according to the STOMPer, some of the patients had left as they were fed up of waiting.
He was told there was only one eye specialist at the A&E and his appeal to be referred to the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was not entertained.
The SGH spokesperson explains:
"We are sorry for Stanley's experience. Our A&E doctor saw him within one hour after his registration.
"As he was referred by his GP for an eye consult, the doctor from our Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was called.
"The number of patients requiring attendance by eye specialists at A&E is usually low.
"Unfortunately on that particular day, the eye doctor on call was attending to an emergency case in the ICU which resulted in the waiting.
"Patients at the A&E are seen by our Emergency Department doctors who will provide the necessary care and treatment, to stabilise the patient's condition.
"Where necessary, the appropriate specialists will be activated to attend to them.
"For eye cases, if the condition is serious and attention is required urgently, the patient may be referred to SNEC, without an appointment.
"SNEC will continue to monitor the workload to see if there is a need to increase the medical manpower.
"We thank Stanley for his feedback."
Posted on 23 Jul 2010
STOMPer Stanley's unfortunate five-hour wait at the Accidents and Emergency (A&E) department on Jul 6 was because the eye specialist on call was attending to an emergency case in the Intensive Care Unit, says a Singapore General Hospital (SGH) spokesperson.
STOMPer Stanley had been referred to SGH's A&E department for his eye infection. His eyes became very uncomfortable while waiting, and according to the STOMPer, some of the patients had left as they were fed up of waiting.
He was told there was only one eye specialist at the A&E and his appeal to be referred to the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was not entertained.
The SGH spokesperson explains:
"We are sorry for Stanley's experience. Our A&E doctor saw him within one hour after his registration.
"As he was referred by his GP for an eye consult, the doctor from our Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was called.
"The number of patients requiring attendance by eye specialists at A&E is usually low.
"Unfortunately on that particular day, the eye doctor on call was attending to an emergency case in the ICU which resulted in the waiting.
"Patients at the A&E are seen by our Emergency Department doctors who will provide the necessary care and treatment, to stabilise the patient's condition.
"Where necessary, the appropriate specialists will be activated to attend to them.
"For eye cases, if the condition is serious and attention is required urgently, the patient may be referred to SNEC, without an appointment.
"SNEC will continue to monitor the workload to see if there is a need to increase the medical manpower.
"We thank Stanley for his feedback."
