Take care of them as they care for others

Readers respond to Common man, common ward, common hospital

DOCTORS in our public hospitals may be overworked and underpaid but they work just as hard for they do care for the patients under their care. They are often on 24-hour call and after their long hours of duty for the day, they also have to continue working the next morning.

The nurses too have to work long hours and are still on 24-hour standby. That's the reality for our medical staff.

It's high time for the Ministry of Health to conduct a serious study of the conditions the staff at the hospitals are working in; and DO something about it. This is long overdue. We only hear of this or that improvement taking place but so far, they do not seem good enough.

If there is a shortage of doctors and nurses, then employ foreigners. Of course, we have to make it attractive for them to work here. There is no other way; we need their services, we have to pay them and pay them well!

I know this has been done but somehow, we do not seem to be able to get the best out of these contract doctors. If something is wrong, the ministry must act fast and review the situation.

The shortage of doctors is aggravated by many leaving public hospitals to join private ones or opening their own clinics. Then who are the losers? The patients, the ordinary people.

I fail to understand why we boast of being a caring society and yet, we fail to care for our doctors and nurses. We must take care of them. They are providing a great service to many poor Malaysians - people who cannot afford to go to private hospitals for treatment and are dependent on public clinics and hospitals.

It is imperative for the government to take care of the welfare and needs of our doctors, nurses and the supporting staff at our public clinics and hospitals.

They are the ones who are taking care of the people. If they themselves are not being well taken care of, can we seriously expect all of them to care for their patients the way they should. - SH Huang


A doctor's two-sen worth

WELL, my take on the subject is different from yours.

The doctors are poorly paid, the ones left behind are too risk averse, too comfortable or really do not know what to do (like myself).

Hence we carry on. Given a chance to turn the clock back, I would have preferred to resign a long time ago.

I would trust the nursing staff as they are the "rejected" ones who could not get a course anywhere else. Patient safety is compromised as these nurses have too much to document and are BM speaking.

The nursing Sisters are too busy in admin matters.

And for the quality of it all, it must be defined in exact terms what it really is.

That's my two-sen opinion. - A doctor, Perak

Keeping the faith in public hospitals

I SHARE your views about public hospitals. I still keep my good faith in them.

I am convinced that private hospitals are making a (filthy) lot of money. We have all heard stories of how much those seeking treatment in private hospitals have to fork out.

Let me relate one experience as to why I have much faith in our government hospitals.

Recently, my eight-year-old son was found to have asthma. He was warded for four nights. My wife and I took turns to look after him.

I am not much of a writer. But I want to tell you all that I was very impressed with the way the doctors and nurses tended to my son. To me, they are very professional in their work and are a caring lot.

Let me just say this. If the general election was held on the day my son was discharged, I will surely vote for the government. That is my level of satisfaction. - Hamka


Nice, attentive nurses a bonus

I AGREE with you in general as nurses and doctors in our public hospitals are fine. Here is one experience of mine.

During one holiday back in Malaysia (I studied in the US), I went camping in the forest not far from my home town. Coming back from the wild, I suddenly felt pain in my thigh. The next day... I can't walk. Doctor diagnosed it as cellulitis. (I can still remember that word....).

Although the injections were very painful and medications given to me were very bitter and difficult to swallow, my stay in the hospital was tolerable because of the kind nurses who looked after me.

As I also had a relative working in the hospital, I was given preferential treatment in a way. An extra bed was placed next to mine for my sister or brother to use when they took care of me overnight.

The nurses were very nice to me, so much so that I thought one or two were overly attentive. Ha, perhaps, I was the most handsome 20-year-old bachelor in the ward at that time.

So you see, it ain't so bad staying in a public hospital. I dare say that in general, all patients are treated well. - MNM