KKH Hospital Under the Spotlight: A Tale of Waiting and Misunderstandings
What the Story Says
In February, a woman—who insisted she had been pregnant at 20 weeks and that Covid‑19 had turned her experience into a nightmare—posted online that she sat in a hospital waiting area for four hours before finally getting seen. The claim went on to say she suffered a miscarriage and that the baby was somehow discarded as medical waste.
The Hospital’s Take
Professor Tan Hak Koon, head of the Obstetrics & Gynaecology division at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), told The Straits Times that the hospital is aware of the posts but, after scouring its records, cannot locate the patient tied to the account. He highlighted:
- There are discrepancies between the story shared online and the billing information KKH can pull up.
- KKH does not turn away any patient who needs care; patients are triaged based on urgency.
- She was allegedly advised “to wait in the drop‑off area” and finally seen by a doctor about three hours later.
- In the event of a suspected miscarriage, the hospital has protocols that allow the patient to claim the baby’s remains before proceeding to the mortuary.
Our Bottom Line on Waiting Times
According to the professor, the Urgent OB/GYN Centre (UOGC)—a 24‑hour walk‑in clinic—categorises patients to keep wait times short:
- Highest urgency patients get attend immediately.
- Patients of medium urgency face an average delay of 30 minutes.
- When a miscarriage risk emerges, the staff will quickly transfer the patient to a monitoring area or give them a wheelchair.
What About the “Discarded Baby” Claim?
The hospital refuted the claim that the fetus was tossed as waste, explaining that the procedural rights of the patient are respected. If the baby isn’t claimed, the hospital’s mortuary will take care of the remains properly.
A Quick Look at a Similar Incident
Just a bit earlier, a pregnant woman at 36 weeks was forced to wait for two hours in the Emergency Department (ED) of National University Hospital (NUH). She eventually lost her baby. NUH admitted the oversight and pledged to improve its ED processes for expectant mothers.
Time to Drop That Phone Call (or Email)
Professor Tan prompted the woman—if she’s still keeping the story alive—to reach out at [email protected] so the hospital can address any concerns. A quick chat might clear up the confusion and prevent any further headlines.
TL;DR
The hospital denies turning patients away, can’t spot the supposed case in its records, and insists it has protocols that keep 40‑plus‑hour waits a myth—though a similar incident at NUH shows room for improvement.
