In response to L.P.C.'s letter.
Not the picture painted
18 Aug 2006
K. KANAPATHY Penang
I REFER to "Hospital has enough surgeons" (NST, Aug 10) by Penang’s director of health Dr Ong Chee Leng.
I am surprised at the response by Dr Ong. Surprised that the waiting period for a bypass operation in Penang Hospital is only two months.
My father and some others he had befriended at the Penang Hospital on visits for his heart condition definitely waited more than two months to be admitted. It was close to four months with no calls for admission. They then opted to have their operations done in private hospitals here because their condition was worsening.
The claim that there was a backlog of cases because a surgeon was not available and that many heart surgeons had left in recent months is also true.
I’m sure that L.P.C. ("Heart patients who wait and wait" — NST, Aug 8) must have done his/her research thoroughly before writing in. I, too, did my research and went on a fact-finding mission to find out the cause of the delay and also came up with the same findings as L.P.C. I think the hospital authorities should take proactive steps and try to rectify the matter instead of denying what seems evident.
Dr. Ong Chee Leng's reply:
DR ONG CHEE LENG, State Medical Director, Penang
K. KANAPATHY Penang
I REFER to "Hospital has enough surgeons" (NST, Aug 10) by Penang’s director of health Dr Ong Chee Leng.
I am surprised at the response by Dr Ong. Surprised that the waiting period for a bypass operation in Penang Hospital is only two months.
My father and some others he had befriended at the Penang Hospital on visits for his heart condition definitely waited more than two months to be admitted. It was close to four months with no calls for admission. They then opted to have their operations done in private hospitals here because their condition was worsening.
The claim that there was a backlog of cases because a surgeon was not available and that many heart surgeons had left in recent months is also true.
I’m sure that L.P.C. ("Heart patients who wait and wait" — NST, Aug 8) must have done his/her research thoroughly before writing in. I, too, did my research and went on a fact-finding mission to find out the cause of the delay and also came up with the same findings as L.P.C. I think the hospital authorities should take proactive steps and try to rectify the matter instead of denying what seems evident.
Dr. Ong Chee Leng's reply:
Meet the hospital director
21 Aug 2006DR ONG CHEE LENG, State Medical Director, Penang
I REFER to "Not the picture painted" (NST, Aug 18) by K. Kanapathy on the matter of surgeon availability at the Penang Hospital.
The State Health Department takes a serious view of the matters raised by him.
He is welcome to see the director of the Penang Hospital after making a prior appointment .
The State Health Department takes a serious view of the matters raised by him.
He is welcome to see the director of the Penang Hospital after making a prior appointment .
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