MY mother was taken to Hospital Sungai Buloh on Jan 19 for acute abdominal pain and admitted in the surgical ward for two days.

She was seen by two surgeons and the case was supposedly discussed with the head of department, who never once appeared in the ward. She was then discharged and given an appointment for colonoscopy five weeks hence.

We took her to University Malaya Medical Centre for a second opinion. She was seen by the gastroentologist and an urgent colonoscopy was done which detected a large tumour in her intestine and she was operated on the next morning.

She then spent six days in the ICU and six days in the ward before being discharged.

I had expected a much better level of care from government-run hospitals. Is Hospital Sungai Buloh a white elephant? My mother’s life would have been in danger if we had not sought treatment at UMMC.

We hope the director-general of Health will look into this matter. As taxpayers, would it be wrong to expect proper care and treatment at government-run hospitals?

ARUTCHELVAM KUMARAN, Sungai Buloh

Source: NST – February 13, 2008