Commentary: Why do we keep going to the A&E when we don’t need it?

SINGAPORE: These days, a regular day in the emergency department – or at least the Accident and Emergency Department at Raffles Hospital looks like this:

Despite achieving a high COVID-19 vaccination rate in the Singapore population, young patients below the age of three and the elderly are generally patients classified under “Protocol 1”. This means that an antigen rapid test and polymerase chain reaction test is recommended. For these patients, they would often visit the ED and may request to be transferred to a community care facility or COVID-19 treatment facility.

As we all know, one’s medical history – especially if there was a COVID-19 infection – can lead to certain implications when travelling such as the change for an additional booster injection which can affect vaccination status. As has been the case even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we prescribe paracetamol to patients with fever, and if they feel better after an hour or so, they are discharged from the ED.

However, in the case of the latter group where treatment had to be escalated and reviewed, the situation could have taken a turn for the worse if they waited at a GP clinic. That said however, we have to attend to every patient who arrives at our door, because no health concern is considered too minor. This means spending time on firstly, treating the patient, secondly, talking to parents and explaining the situation, and thirdly, making the necessary arrangements.

We are very fortunate to be in Singapore where medical care is easily accessible. Patients can visit the ED through various means: An ambulance via the"995" emergency hotline, private transport or simply walk-ins.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

kiasi

Dr Devin Tan a Specialist in Emergency Medicine & the rest of the Medical World Team simply cannot find a solution or simply do not want to stop Covid infection. & those who have the solution are ignore, banned. SAD WORLD we live in. Good luck. They themselves want Covid to stay.

because the GP opened for 15mins then said closed for registration. eventho not many patients registered.

Because GPs have become referral middle-men and unwilling to prescribed anything above paracetamol. It's as simple as that.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Commentary: Why is the idea of a “neutral” Ukraine a non-starter in peace talks?While Finland, Belgium and Austria have been offered as potential models for a 'neutral' Ukraine to emulate, Putin's additional demands to curtail Ukraine's sovereignty make it difficult for Ukraine to agree, say two observers.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Reasons why car enthusiasts don't like CVTs (and why car makers do)The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) has a unique reputation of being both celebrated and condemned by the automotive industry and enthusiasts alike. Today, we find out why it is so controversial and yet, so successful. First appearing in the early 20th century before gaining mainstream popularity in the Noughties, the CVT was supposed to be the silver bullet to solve...
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »

Commentary: Why is South Korea easing restrictions when COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high?Relaxing measures may have more to do with politics than public health, but South Korea might be a model for learning to live with COVID-19, says Steven Borowiec. living with viruses Quoted 'Relaxing measures may have more to do with politics than public health, but South Korea might be a model for learning to live with COVID-19, says Steven Borowiec.' Oh well, COVID is NEVER been Medical Science. Vaccine was there 1st then Covid 2nd. Its all as planned. Because everyone in the world knows that with Omicron, their hospitals & HC services will definitely self implode with frivolous mild symptom cases if they continue to stubbornly keep their VDM and not call it endemic?
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Analysing unprofitable condos: 6 reasons why Urban Vista has performed poorlyIt’s been nearly a year since we last wrote our article on the 13 condos with the most unprofitable transactions. How time flies. I’ve previously gone into further detail with why Stellar RV and The Tennery performed the way they did, and this time, I decided to change things up a little to set my sights on the East instead....
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »

Why a huge Russian convoy remains stalled north of Kyiv
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Tell me why this Chinese-led Malaysian political party is often used as a scapegoat - The Independent Singapore NewsIn the Johor by-elections, the ruling Umno party seemed to have discovered the ideal battle horse ahead of the Johor elections which are scheduled for Mar 12. It is adamant that the Chinese-led DAP should not be allowed to participate in national politics, particularly in the run-up to the Johor state elections. The DAP …
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 9. / 63 Read more »