Firsthand experience at Batu Gajah General Hospital

I have always wanted to try out as an outpatient at the Batu Gajah General Hospital but for various reasons did not, until this morning.

My right knee problem due to a fall six months ago did not go away but I got lots of advice to see acupuncturist, chiropractor, orthopedic specialist and so on during the period. My recent meetings with close relatives and their further insistence as well as reminders from my daughter who used to work as a part-time carer in UK, prompted me to go to Hospital Besar Batu Gajah.

Being new, I did not even know where to start. At the Outpatient, met someone I knew who asked what I was there for and he told me to go to the first counter on the left to register. Left my Identity Card on a small tray and someone took it to look for record and I mentioned that it was my first visit. I was asked if Retiree and whether I have a special card meant for Pensioners (ex-government servant) and I replied no card and was told to pay Rm1 (otherwise free)!

This Rm1 started my mind wondering... so cheap no wonder there are so many people, and no wonder the government is hard pressed for providing good facilities. Then I was reminded of an ex civil servant friend who commented about people in Mercs going for treatment at government hospitals giving the impression that they should go for private treatment and leave GH to government servants and the poor. My wife would contend that for paying high taxes, high income people are also entitled, if not more, to government facilities. From a practical point, it is also a question of whether one is prepared to wait for service, AND be prepared for some 'loss of face' when those who think you do not belong and should be paying a premium at the private hospitals. There are also those employees at the GH who know who they are and tried their best to show their authority now that they were given the chance.

When told to go to Room 3, I could see only Room A, B and C, not knowing further to the right, there are indeed, Doctor Room 1, 2, 3 & 4! My number was 148 and I waited among a crowd - just those who are seated numbered 60 and easily another 20 more 'hanging around' both inside and outside. Slowly, I get to hear comments like: 'The one being treated is only 38' and the time was 10.20 am. Someone I know came and he said his number is 57 and he had went out and came back. Another person I know complained that his number is 88 yet someone with a number 100 was attended to earlier. It seems they refused to use the 'Queue system' which was already in place earlier.

I must say, under the circumstances, the staff worked admirably. For example, a nurse who did the calling of names actually reassured someone who asked if she was missed, 'Kami tidak tinggalkan satu orang pun' (or we do not leave out even one person) and the time was past 1 pm. My turn came at 1.30pm (waited 3 hours) and I was attended to by a young and pretty Indian doctor. I asked the obvious question, 'No time for lunch yet?' and she replied, 'I did not even have my breakfast... I was on 24 hours duty earlier...' If there were any complaints about service, they pale in comparison to what they had to put up with. I honestly sympathize with their working conditions and admire their work ethics. I said something like, 'Nothing much can be done?' without expecting a reply.

I was instructed to go for an X-ray which can only be done at 2pm. I went back for porridge as I too did not even have my breakfast. With the X-ray film, I went back to face the afternoon crowd which included a few familiar faces of the morning visit. Was given prescription and a form to take to Physiotherapy section for appointment. It was already past 4 pm and I had yet to collect the medicine from Pharmacy, so I opted for a quick 20 minutes of hot treatment and agreed to come for the next visit on Thursday morning.

As the Astro advertisement puts it in Cantonese: 'Ngoh yau keh hai si karn' (or What I have is time) being a retiree, so what is waiting a few hours for almost free treatment? But I can imagine some people might think I should not add to the crowd... but they did not know my situation as 'Mah sei lok tei harng' (or when the horse you are riding died, you have to come down and walk).

Moreover I needed the experience to be able to write about our beloved GH - it used to be the only one in Perak which had First Class Ward where the royalties had to go to for treatment.

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