Issues to address:
- Unprofessional
Nurse Manager Sister Ho 34A’s
- Inefficient
nurses
- 34A’s
Staff Nurse Rhoda Dela Cruz IGNORING patients
- Treating
team not explaining, educating and counselling on illness
- Visiting
timing not extended.
- Consent
not soughted for ECT
- Money
given for research given to unwanted persons away by nurses. Not safekept.
- Not
treated with dignity and respect - Treating team - doctor Rao and case
manager Sarah Ann FORCING one to sign school's withdrawal form with
various conditions.
- Inability
to refuse recommended treatment - treatment forced down our throats.
- Inability
to exercise our rights to leave the hospital against the advice of my
doctor.
- Inability
to exercise our rights to be able to meet and talk with other visitors during
visiting hours.
- Handphones
not able to use in wards (a terrible thing)
- No
religious counselling allowed or provided.
- Being
a extremely long social overstayer but parents given the leeway of putting
patient in the hospital but not paying anything.
- Sanitary
pads are lousy
Finally, stay here has been an unpleasant and uncomfortable
one.
Analyst on Patient Information Sheet. 30/6/2012 30 June 2012
Saturday 9:05pm
Referring to
the Patient Information Sheet, I write my story and in this letter. (In fact, I
just found it on the shelf in the nurses' counter. And it wasn't given to me at
all in admission!)
Institute of Mental Health. "Loving Hearts, Beautiful
Minds", Located at Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View,
Singapore 539747 with the telephone number (65) 63892000 and the website
www.imh.com.sg.
The Institute
of Mental Health (IMH)/Woodbridge Hospital (IMH/WH) is a tertiary psychiatric
hospital in Singapore. They must strive to continually improve their services
and ensure that their patients and visitors are well cared for. They have to
recognise that each patient is unique with individual needs, strengths, values
and beliefs. That their staff have to strive to make my visit, consultation or
hospitalisation at IMH/WH a beneficial and comfortable one. However, in this
letter I want to state that even though they strive to do these, I am not ensured
that I as a patient was well cared for. I am not being recognised that I as a
patient is unique with my individual needs, strengths, values and beliefs
because I roughly quote my Nurse Manager Sister Ho Soo Kim's from my fourth
admission ward 34A words "I have 40 over patients here, I can't follow
each of your individuality, there are rules and regulations that EVERYONE has
to follow." Yes I agree there are rules and regulations that might be for
us, but if you just see and for easy management, take us as 40 patients with
similar likes, needs strengths, values and beliefs, we are just like a jail
like colony with a label that you band us together in a 40 patient pack. What I
mean is that when I voice out to that Nurse Manager Sister Ho Soo Kim, she shouldn't
say "Oh, because I have forty over patients here and therefore..."
instead, she should say "I hear you, I will try my best to help you with
your needed individual needs and your 'to-be-strengthened' strengths.
I MH/WH adopts a
multidisciplinary team approach in my care. But I wasn't aware of it until only
recently when the medical officer Charmaine Tang told me they will discuss my
issue with their meetings in "MDT", I was clueless what is
"MDT", then she explained it was multidisciplinary team. However, I
would like to commend on Nurse Manager Sister Krishnan that the very first time
I've got admitted to IMH at ward 34B, she informed me that I am in a special
team and a case manager and doctors will be seeing me. But I wasn't aware of a
team MDT and the hospital has a so-called multidisciplinary team. They should
inform us.
It is claimed
that their psychiatrists, medical officers, nurses, allied healthcare
professionals and other staff will work together with me and my caregivers to
achieve the optimal outcome in my treatment.
But I'd like to
state that they can work WITH me, but although they do seem like they are
working TOGETHER, it is not efficient enough. For example, I told my doctor
that I want them to write on the case notes that the calamine lotions I
prescribe to is intended for me for my face and specifically for my pimples. My
doctor, Dr Sujatha Rao said yes, they will write down. But when it comes to
getting my lotion at night from Assistant Nurses, they refused to believe that
calamine lotion is for my face or pimples and I had to ask the Staff Nurse to
check my case notes because I said I told the doctor and she agreed to convey
that message by writing it down on the case notes. Staff Nurse Tang Shi Wei
just checked the EIMR, Electronic Medical records for what medicines we are
taking and said it's only for DRY SKIN.
Obviously the
doctors have not updated that with pimples and face electronically! That I
don't blame them but when another Staff Nurse - Jiang Bing checked my case
notes, she reportedly told me even the case notes doesn't say it's for my
face/pimples too! So I jump from Nurse to Nurse to try and get my calamine
lotion and it's exhaustingly exhausting because the Assistant Nurses won't give
me my calamine lotion unless they have been 'instructed by the doctors' to do
so. The reason why I mentioned about the case notes it's because that's the way
they communicate only! And that's how they "work" with each other.
Another example
would be that when my case manager writes that I could listen to the radio in
the mornings, Nurse Manager Sister Ho Soo Kim told me no, all my privileges
have been CANCELLED and claims that the radio is SPOILT - which I tried the day
before, it was working fine. Radio is essential to me in a ward of nothing-to-doness
and devastating boring mornings for a 21 year old.
Wouldn't she know that I can listen to the radio in the mornings
as written by my case manager? (purportedly?) No. Because she didn't read that
in my case notes and case manager and nurse manager mostly communicate through
writing to each other in case notes -_- which I feel they seldom talk to each
other. Similar example would be when my case manager even TOLD Nurse Manager
Sister Ho Soo Kim that she brought magazines for me and that she would give me
a magazine per every 3/2 days. And later said I have to exchange the magazine
one at a time with NM S. Ho. Before my case manager said the exchange 'policy',
Nurse Manager Sister Ho DIDN'T give me a new magazine after 2/3 days.
And thereafter
NM S.Ho was not coming out of her comfort of her office much that I have no
chance to 'exchange' magazines with her. So that's how she 'works' with me and
with each other. I would like to state why am I stating all these 'minute'
examples when it can be said it doesn't interfere with my 'treatment'. My dear,
calamine lotion, radio and magazines are essential to achieve the optimal
outcome in my treatment.
Treatment
outcome doesn't have to depend only on the outcomes of medication and
'treatment' in medical sense, however treatment is the treating of the person
AS A WHOLE. Since you guys have allied health services that works as a
multidisciplinary team, that has psychology, medical social workers,
occupational therapy, physiotherapy, pharmacy, case managers and even dental
services, you should know. Calamine lotion cures my pimples and makes me feel
better about myself, radio keeps me occupied where I can be so stressed doing
nothing everyday with mundane things like watching TV and writing to do,
magazines is a fresh read apart from the other mundane things too. These make
my stay a comfortable one.
- The MDT team will have to also explain, educate and counsel me
on my illness, treatment and care which I beg to explain that they didn't
otherwise. I came in here this admission because my parents padlocked my
house's windows and doors and I used my strength to displace the windows so
that I could climb into the house to change and bathe. Because of that they
called the police and the ambulance who brought me to the Emergency department
of IMH. Ms Janine Kok the doctor there admitted me because she claims the EPIP team
of doctors seeing me had some 'concerns' over me even though I protested I
didn't have an onset of Bipolar mania illness at the displacing of window at
home. I merely wanted to make a statement that you should not lock me out of my/your
house/home.
When I got
admitted, consultant Doctor Sujatha Rao immediately after a few sessions of
consultation slapped out a plan for me - to inject me. I was taken aback. I
protested that if "you change your dissolvable nauseousatic risperidone
anti-psychotic into a tablet form, I would eat it, but please don't give me
injections", it's adding to my pain you know. Dr Sujatha Rao disputes that
it is because I don't eat my medicines that's why they are giving me
injections. And she ignores my pleas. I don't see she EDUCATED and explain
nicely and thoroughly about the injection and the content of the injection.
When I was feeling so afraid and sad about going on my first course of
injections, she failed to COUNSEL me on my treatment and care. Counsel is
walking through with the patient, caring and gently emphatising and NOT
ignoring the patient about their concerns; namely in this case, my injections.
One more
example would be that my doctor - Sujatha Rao barred all my phonecalls and
visitors though initially she allowed me to call only two friends due to my
other friends complaining to the hospital not to call them anyone (which I
could just NOT call them anymore). And a list of RULES was THROWN to my face
(refer to Appendix 2 point no 1,2 and 3.) –
1)
No phonecalls
2)
No visitors except for parents and pastors
3)
Comply to medicine dosage
4)
HP to be kept in business office and not in the ward
5)
No pestering of staff/other patients unnecessarily
And that if i
follow these 'rules' I would get to go to Club EPIP (an activity group),
parole, outing and finally discharge.
I am furious.
If my 'behaviour' is 'bad', then you should give me therapy/COUNSELLING, not
throw me a list of rules and regulations for me to follow so that I could
DISCHARGE? Ridiculous doctors. It is stated as a CONTRACT AGREEMENT, but I
didn't even AGREE to it. Darn _____. I felt I wasn't COUNSELLED on my
treatment, illness and care, instead I felt like I was in a military bootcamp.
They failed to make my stay here a comfortable one.
-Next point, I
understand I have to do approach their staff (IMH's) if I need any assistance
but in actual fact, they don't render assistance, if not, immediately --- when
I needed Staff Nurse Rhoda Del Cruz Afalan to help me check and confirm my case
notes that this calamine lotion is for my face, she IGNORED me THREE times
before I could have a proper explanation (refer to Appendix 1, incident no
27/6/2012 Wednesday 8:17pm). I felt it was such an uphill task approaching any
of the staff for 'assistance'.
-Third point. I
understand that the stipulated visiting hours for general ward, which is my
ward - 34A is Daily 12pm - 2pm and 5pm - 7pm. But I still see visitors
streaming in from 9am till 9pm in the evening. And THAT I AM NOT COMPLAINING AT
ALL! Because I feel that we should have visiting hours from the TIME we wake up
to the TIME we sleep! Visits/visitors are greatly treasured in a world of
jail-like environment, I got so relieved and comforted when my visitor comes in
the morning and brings me breakfast that the hospital always can afford to only
provide bread and coffee, bread and coffee, bread and coffee EVERYDAY. Every
single day!
-Ok, next point. There are other related care activities conducted
in their hospital and they want us to take note of these. As a patient, my
consent will have to be sought for identified treatment and investigations. If
my mental condition prevents me from giving consent, my next-of-kin and lawful
representative may give the consent in accordance with the legal provisions in
Singapore.
However, last
year, in 2011 in the months between June to November where I was transferred to
the high-dependency psychiatric ward. The doctor there slapped me with an ECT
(Electro-Convulsive Therapy) treatment. My consent have not been sought for
that identified treatment. Because I was too 'high'? I can't make decisions for
myself? Or because they were afraid I would say 'no', and force it on me. Even
my next-of-kin's consent were not sought. My mum and dad, alive, did not say
yes or no, they weren't being asked at all! When asked case manager Sarah Ann
Tay about it, she said EVEN THOUGH MY PARENTS DON'T AGREE TO ME HAVING ECT,
THEY WOULD STILL GO AHEAD WITH ECT BECAUSE I'M TOO 'HIGH' ALREADY. What makes
you think ECT would be the definitive cure-all for even severe bipolar mania?
What I can remember is I ACTED, BEHAVED WELL after 8 sessions of ECT just to
get away from ECT and to 'prove' to them I am 'cured' while in actual fact I
wanted to avoid being injected with knockout anaesthesia and waking up not remembering
anYTHING or even WHERE AM I. From my experience, ECT has made me lost my
precious memories and made me a ZOMBIE. I merely wanted to avoid it and I ACTED
well and forced myself to behaved! So that's how this age-old ECT 'cures' you!
I feel that ECT should be over and DONE with of this 50 years old treatment
which has not changed passing electricity through your brain. Inhumane? You
bet. I think, the slogan is just superficial. "Loving hearts, BEAUTIFUL
minds?" You don't bet. This age-old ECT service? And you still say you
'strive' to continually improve your 'services' and ensure that your patients
are well cared for. How do you maintain patient care as your utmost priority
when our memories are going to be lost and my brain cells are damaged? How are you
committed to providing healthcare of the highest quality when that practise is
outdated about 50 years ago?
IMH/WH is
gazetted under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008. This Act allows
for persons who are suspected of unsound mind and believed to be dangerous to
themselves or others by reason of unsound mind, to be detained for treatment in
this hospital. Such admission is termed involuntarily and the duration if
detention varies from case to case. The treatment and care for such patients will
be the same as other patients who are voluntarily admitted for treatment.
I am not placed
under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008, but even if I'm not
under that I have stayed in IMH for FIVE months in 2011 and another SIX months
in 2012. It is almost the same as keeping a patient under the Mental Health Act
and you have no right to detain me for treatment in this hospital because they
should not suspect me of an 'unsound' mind. I can't help but have a verse
floating in my mind: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, But of
power, of love and of a sound mind" 1 Timothy 1:7. I am not trying to be
religious here, but not talking religiously, I should not be suspected of an
unsound mind. I have mood elatedness and being high, but I am not 'unsound' to
the extent I hear voices, I hallucinate, and talk to myself like a retard or
get so high that I can't control myself. I also am not dangerous to myself or
others. I
have never harmed myself or others ever. If you force someone to
stay in the hospital against their wishes, how is it that we are working
TOGETHER? If you force someone to stay in the hospital against their wishes,
don't you think a normal, sane, person of a sound mind would turn INSANE? She
would! Surely!
To be continued...
Analyst on
Patient Information Sheet
Contd
Research is
also undertaken in this hospital and I may be invited to participate in
clinical research or clinical trials. I am selected and did not decline to
participate in a LYRIKS research for at risk individuals during my stay in IMH
in 2009. I was given $50 each for drawing blood from me, doing tests on me and
the nurse manager and nurses failed to safekeep my $100 in total and it was
passed to my uncle - which in turn passed to my mum. I am not happy about it
because it's MY money, I go through the pains of needles poking me and I don't
intend to pass my money to my mother. I have experienced many shortcomings in
my care. Therefore these important views and comments that I write, hopefully
it will be to be given due consideration.
Mr Chua Hong
Choon, Chief Executive Officer, refer to Appendix 1 for staff service failures
and you would know what I mean.
PATIENTS &
FAMILY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
IMH is an acute tertiary psychiatric
hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services. They
aim to deliver high quality care to achieve the best possible outcome for all
patients.
It is claimed that all medical
decisions and recommendations on my treatment are made after careful
deliberation by the care team and take into account all available information
and facts concerning my condition.
But I think that my team of EPIP
(Early Psychosis Intervention Program) came across to me as coming out with
decisions and recommendations on me in careless deliberation. They have tried,
in my sense, badly all the available information and facts concerning me. The
team withdrew me from my studies and even FORCED me to sign the withdrawal
form. My case manager, Sarah Ann Tay shifted the school's withdrawal form,
while my mum and doctor pressed for it, to me. Stating that if I don't sign the
form, my mother will not come and visit, if I sign the form, my mother will
come and visit me. <---- absurd="absurd" o:p="o:p" what="what">
In the hospital's care delivery,
they also have to ensure that I am accorded due respects and rights.
1. Be Treated with Dignity and Respect
I shall receive considerate,
respectful, appropriate and cost effective medical care, regardless of my age,
gender, race, nationality, social status, physical or mental illness.
The hospital also have to respect
and support my rights to appropriate assessment and management of pain by
qualified healthcare professionals.
Forcing me to withdraw from my
studies when I have only three months left to graduate and I've got great
potential to move on - gotten a 'B' for my current semester is considerate?
Forcing me to sign a withdrawal form for school especially by doctor Sujatha
Rao and my case manager Sarah Ann Tay is respectful? All the time I was
flailing 'my arms' raising the hew that no! I don't want to withdraw from my
studies! Is it my choice or your choice??! I actually don't have to stay in the
hospital at all as an inpatient becuase I don't have an onset of Bipolar Mania
mood 'highness' by displacing a window! And I stayed in the hospital more than
what was expected and overshot my school reopening date - 21 April when I
admitted on 10 April. Forcing me to sign the withdrawal form or else my mother
wouldn't visit me, is appropraite medical care for me? Although in medical
terms I am given medicine and all that, but mind you, my studies is affected! I
am well, I am fit to study without any onset of mental illness. Even my doctor
- Sujatha Rao said that my illness has stabilised!
The hospital or these people have
not respected and supported my right to appropriate assessment and management
of pain. This emotional struggle and pain is an internal devastation! You
inflicted emotional pain in me by forcing me to withdraw from my studies!
2. Informed Consent
·
Informed consent will have to be
sought from patients and caregivers for treatment and procedures where
required.
·
If the patient has been found by the
doctor to be
i. incompetent/unable to understand
the proposed treatment for whatever reason) and/or;
ii. medically incapable of
understanding the proposed treatment and/or;
iii. unable to communicate his/her
wishes regarding treatment, our legal guardian/authorised person may exercise
(to the extent permitted by law) the rights delineated on behalf of us.
I'll like to reiterate again,
informed consent have not been sought from me as a patient for treatment and
procedures as required.
First, giving me injections,
second, slapping me with ECT.
Third, withdrawing me from my
studies - a procedure.
The team of doctors and case
managers DID NOT even have a conference/session/talk with my school's course
manager or counsellor. I said you as a doctor and case manager, instead of
finding ways to get me back to my studies, you detriment me by en-routing to
withdraw me without any options! How was I treated with no dignity! I was not
found to be i, ii, or iii!
3. Safety & Privacy
We are entitled to be treated with
dignity in a humane environment that affords reasonable protection from harm,
including:
- Receiving care in a
safe setting,
- Being free from physical
restraints or seclusion, unless medically required in situations where there is
substantial risk of imminent half to myself or others.
- Being provided with appropriate
protection, especially for the disabled, elderly or vunerable children.
I am going to spat on these
statementd because what I'm going to say following will show we have not been
treated with dignity in a humane environment. Nurse
Ma Win Win Mar in 2009, in my first few admissions, man-handled me when I
wanted to go out of the pantry into the visitor's area, she pushed and kicked
me. Assistant Nurse Rosnah Binte Aziz and Health Attendant Dana Lachmi did
almost the similar things too.
I have the right being free from physical
restraints, but referring to Appendix 1, Nurse Ma-H shouted at me "Okay
tie her two hands, one body" when I just don't wish to take my medicine!
There was no substantial risk of imminent harm to myself or others! Even though
they might dispute that if I do not take my medicine it would be 'harmful' to
me or others. But I beg otherwise, I had sudden vomits after I ate the lithium
so I just decided to stop taking it for a while, it's my choice.
6. During My Stay
1. I can accept or refuse medical care or
recommended treatment to the extent permitted by law. In so doing, I have to
accept responsibility for any medical consequences resulting from my decision.
2. I have the right to leave the
hospital against the advice of my doctor, unless I am in legal custody within
the ambit of either the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008 or the
Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 68), or where restrictions on such rights to
leave the hospital are otherwise stipulated and/or permitted or authorised by
any existing law in force in Singapore. However, if I choose to do so, the
hospital and doctors will not be held responsible for any medical consequences
pertaining to my health thereafter.
3. I have the right to meet and talk
with family, friends and other visitors during visiting hours, unless my doctor
or the hospital's policy orders otherwise.
1. I do not know what is the extent
permitted by law and I consulted Staff Nurse Jeslin Tan Chun Hua, she failed to
provide me with a comprehensive information on what kind of laws is IMH/WH
gazetted under, besides the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008. I
chose not to eat my medicine (lithium) and my doctor just - on 2/7/2012 8:56am
said - if I don't eat my lithium, I can't go to Club EPIP, my privileges won't
be given to me. I have the right to accept or refuse medical care or
recommended treatment! And you are indirectly forcing me to eat my medicine
by revoking my 'privileges' like Occupational Therapy/Club EPIP. Where my
'privileges' are actually necessities - THERAPY, an activity club. The law
would not have force me to eat medicine because I didn't infringe on any laws
while having onset of mental illness, nor am I a danger to myself or others
without eating medicine. When I do not want to eat medicine, Nurse Ma-H said,
and I want to say again "Okay tie her two hands, one body, if she doesn't
want to eat her medicine, WE BRING IT TO HER". Forcing/Threatening? How
uncomfortable and threatened I feel about my stay here!
2. I have the right to leave the hospital
against the advice of my doctor. I am not under the ambit of the Mental Health
(Care and Treatment) Act 2008 or Criminal Procedure Code or permitted or
authorised by law in Singapore. However, I would like to say my doctor Revoked
my Right and when I said I would just take my belongings go off to my friend's
house to stay or just drop myself outside my home and see how it goes because
my parents refused to take me home, Dr Sujatha Rao said no, she can't let me
out, "I need to be in care of 'somebody' ". Although I have the right
to leave the hospital against the advice of my doctor, I still find myself
staying long in the hospital. By now, - 2/7/2012 12:03pm I've stayed in the
hospital without an onset of mental illness for Four months. Now it's 6 months.
Where are my rights? Where is my say? The doctors REFUSED to let me out!
Even the doctor - Sujatha Rao says "Yes, I agree that your illness is
STABILISED". Note: this is a hospital, not a jail. If I'm well, I would
like to sue you for keeping me in THE HOSPITAL! If I choose to leave the
hospital, the hospital and the doctors will not be held responsible for any
medical consequences per\taining to my health thereafter.
3. I have the right to meet and talk with
family, friends and other visitors during visiting hours. My doctor4s has
ordered that my friends can't visit me and I can have no other visitors except
for my parents and pastors which I think it's very detrimental to me. But that
aside, my doctor did not say that I can't meet and talk to other visitors
during visiting hours! Nor do I know of any funny hospital 'policy' that orders
me that I'm so special that I can't meet and talk to family, friend or other
visitors. If the hospital policy states so, I am not posing a threat to my
family, friends and other visitors that I can't meet and talk to them. Although
my doctor says friends can't visit me because "they don't want to take the
risk" they=doctors and the team, "risk that I (might disturb? them or
that my friends actually don't want? to visit me?"? I don't know. I am not
a threat that the hospital policy have to state otherwise. As I write this on
6/7/2012 friday 6:26pm, I have been going to the visitor's area and I meet and
talk with OTHER visitors during visiting hours but the nurses doesn't seem to
understand I have the right to do so, they have been, case manager also,
forcing me out of the visitors area during visiting hours!
6/7/2012 Friday
6:41pm
Feedback:
Responsibilities as a Patient
and/or Caregiver
2. Following the Doctor's Recommended
Treatment Plan
I have informed the hospital of the
obstacle which I faced in complying with the treatment plan ie medicine and has
chosen to stop taking it though I regularly keep to follow - ups in
appointments. I vomitted several times suddenly after I ate the medicine as of
26/6/2012 Friday 2:33pm.
4. Safekeeping of my belongings
As an inpatient, I need to observe
the following that to ensure my safety, the safety of other patients and staff,
sharp or harmful objects and cigarette lighters are not allowed in their wards,
but electrical and electronic gadgets eg handphones should be given a second
thought.
Giving up all contact and constant
communication with the world, our friends, family and other loved ones can
drive us crazy.
And in our modern context, constant
communication and contact means SMSes, calling and most importantly Facebook,
twitter and blogs. One month away from your facebook, even one day can make
your 'Facebook' dead. But that's not the most important thing, it is the adaptation
from the society, home, and our comfort zone into the Hospital, sudden throwing
from our homes into a world without handphones, can make us like a fish out of
the water. I think you should know what I mean. My stay in IMH, they don't let
us even Touch our handphones while we are staying in here! I've heard NUH's
psychiatric ward. ALLows handphone for their patients there! What a Big
difference that makes! Ok, if you think handphones can be a danger if allowed
in the wards, take measures like how NUH does, to put your utmost priority in
patient care at IMH and be committed to providing healthcare of the highest
quality ie continually improving your services. Take measures like placing our
handphones in the already installed lockers in our dormitory or in the property
lockers outside at the entrance's nurse's counter. I have discussed this issue
with SN Grace and she brought up the issue that if we keep our locker keys,
what if we lose our keys? Police case? BUT, In the end, work around
to ensure we have an opportunity to use handphones for a few hours each day
while in stay in the ward.
5. Religious Counselling
It is stated that IMH respects our
emotional, social, spiritual and cultural needs. That we may express our
spiritual beliefs and cultural practices which they would endeavour to observe
and respect within the duration of my treatment here. This freedom of
expression is permissible as long as the act does not cause disturbance or harm
to others.
·
It is stated in the patience
information sheet that: I am welcomed to arrange for a religious counsellor to
visit and/or pray for me while I am in hospital. And that I have to please
inform the nurse if I am expecting a religious counsellor to visit.
·
But out of respect for other
patients, I have to conduct my religious prayers quietly by my bedside so that
others will not be disturbed.
·
Most importantly, if I need help to
find a religious counsellor or religious centre in Singapore, it is said that
IMH can provide me with a list of contacts where such services are available.
And that their staff can also help to facilitate a spiritual counselling
session.
I realise IMH patient information
sheet writes one thing and they do a different thing otherwise. I see patient
Susan Chua Suan Choo talking about Jesus as a spiritual and cultural belief and
practice but I see SN Jeslin Tan Chun Hua asking her "do you hear Jesus
talking to you?" as if it is a mental illness that we as Christians can
hear Jesus' voice. The staff have to endeavous to respect and observe our
beliefs within the duration of our treatment here! We habe a freedom of
expression that is permissible as long as the act does not cause disturbance or
harm to the others. But it would not be 'permissible' or a freedom of
expression if the Staff Nurse is going to think we are crazy (as interpreted)
and we wouldn't dare to do if anymore (ie saying that we can hear Jesus'
voice) even though it might seem permissible!
I have a religious counsellor who is
my friend and is a religious, spiritual leader in New Creation Church, but my
doctor has banned all FRIENDS to visit me! I doubt if my that particular friend
came to specially counsel me, she would be DENIED entry. A conflict of
interest? Friend or pastor? You bet.
Also, I have expressed my need for
help in finding a religious counsellor or religious centre in Singapore to my
doctor. And that they can provide me with a list of contacts and help
facilitate a spiritual counselling session but the answer I got was a shaking
head. Recognising that each patient is unique and providing quality inpatient
mental health services? No.
It is said religious prayers can be
quietly conducted at my BEDSIDE without disturbing other. BUT my visitors
HARDLY or NEVER have been allowed to enter our dormitory to sit beside our
bedside. Discrepancies between a A-class ward and a C-class one? Definitely.
And you say you would continually improve your services and recognise that each
patient is unique with our individuality.
7. Social Overstayer
Patient staying in B1/B2/C Class and
certified fit for discharge will be given a grace period of 6 days to arrange
for discharge. However, if the patient wishes to continue to stay in the
hospital despite the hospital having referred to a step down care facility or
back home, the government subsidy will be withdrawn and full paying rate will
be applicable for all charges incurred from the 7th Day onwards during
the overstayed period.
I am a patient staying in C Class
ward and is certified fit for discharge. But it's been already [1 month = 30
days 4 months = 30 x 4 = 120 days] and I have not been discharged at all. By
right, government subsidy will be withdrawn and full paying rate will be
withdrawn and full paying rate will be applicable for all charges from the 7th
Day onwards, however, I've been put on Medifund and partly my father
refused to sign the Medisave form for me. That means I can stay however long I
like or however the doctors like, FREE. That makes my parents have no obligations
letting me stay in the hospital for such a long period of time without forking
any amount of money for it! (my parents want to put me in the hospital and
don't want to take back home). I do not wish to continue staying in the
hospital and I was not given any grace period to arrange for discharge and my
stay here is FREE! What absurd.
Lastly, I am to approach the staff
if I need any assistance, I have approached the nurses that I need to use pads
with wings and of a night protection because their Kotex day sanitary pads are
too small that the mensus are staining my bed and chairs. It is said these pads
with wings are expensive and the hospital is uniformed in providing only that
kind of pad. So assistance is not rendered. Whenever my mensus comes, I have an
uncomfortable time spending with the maximum of two Kotex pads.
So IMH strives to make my stay or
visit a pleasant and comfortable one.
But my stay here has been an
unpleasant and uncomfortable one.
Writing ended 8/7/2012
Sunday 12:46pm
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