By Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek
LAST week, I wrote two postings on my Facebook page about a female patient with laceration on her left middle finger and the suturing that was done in the emergency room (ER) of Parkcity Medical Centre (PCMC). She had eight sutures done.
In my first posting, I wrote about how a simple anti-tetanus (ATT) injection given to the patient on left Deltoid muscle led to infection on the injection site because it was administered on a site that was not cleaned with alcohol swab. I shared on how the customer service of PCMC handle patient’s complaint in my second posting that shows the personnel doesn’t seems to care.
On July 14, the patient had a follow up visit in hospital 2 to have the suture removed. This was her fourth visit to hospital 2 to treat a simple laceration wound. By now, the infected injection site has subsided following one week of high dosage of antibiotic.
As expected, after suture removal, the lacerated wound has not healed. It was obvious that the suturing was badly done even to an untrained eye (see pic below). It was apparent that, the technical skill of the doctor who treated the patient is questionable. In this “Bolehland” language, it is best described as a half-past-six competence.
This reminds me of my houseman day in Johor Bahru ER when I was a houseman back in 1973. Suturing is one of the basic technical skill a houseman needs to learn.
Back then, the hospital assistant (known as medical assistant now) would give us tips of how to do a proper suturing. Obviously, that doctor in PCMC have not learned the rope of a proper suturing.
What a disappointment that the doctor in a private premium hospital ER was unable to do a proper job of suturing. I believe besides this female patient, there may be other patients who has suffered the same fate.
Few days ago, I was informed that a local Chinese vernacular press have queried the hospital about the patient’s treatment as reported in my Facebook page. One top official from PCMC claimed she has contacted the patient and that the welfare of the patient is the hospital’s priority.
This sounds like a bad joke.
At no time the hospital contacted the patient. If the patient’s welfare is their top priority as claimed, the response time to patient’s complaint is found to be wanting.
It took three Facebook postings and complaint to the hospital customer service and a lapse of six days before the hospital responded (response time).
I hope I do not sound like an old broken radio to say that the people who walks in the corridor of power in PCMC obviously do not pay top priority to patient’s complaint. Maybe it is just lip service.
After all, Malaysians often complain but do not pursue vigorously to its conclusion. From the ONLY ONE phone call I received from the CEO on July 9 and I have not received any feedback regarding the patient’s complaint, in which I have alluded to in my third posting posted on July 10 and in fact explained fully to the CEO.
Since my Facebook postings and publicity from the press, I received many calls from my neighbourhood friends, who thanked me for highlighting the problem of PCMC. Majority of the callers have very unpleasant experience in the hospital.
PCMC needs to be aware that patient deserves prompt and efficient treatment by competent staffs with fair charges. Honestly, when can these people that matters in the hospital wake up from slumber and tackle the problem?
The patient is scheduled to visit hospital 2 on 19 July. Hopefully that will be the last visit. Imagine this, a simple laceration needs 5 visits to two different hospitals for further treatment. What about the money and time wasted? What a frustration and anger as a result of choosing a wrong hospital for treatment! – July 16, 2021
Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek is the former Health Minister and former MCA President.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
