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Mar 9, 2010
Dental service: Be proactive and flexible
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I WISH to recall my experience with Toa Payoh Polyclinic's dental clinic in relation to the reply by Dr Joseph Soon, director of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics' dental division ('Clinic appointment', Feb 25).
In October last year, a dentist told me I needed seven fillings. On that visit, I was not given a filling but was charged for consultation and polishing.
In December, a dentist gave me one filling and when I asked for at least one more, the reply was, sorry, one filling per visit.
When I asked the nurse, I was told that 10 minutes, which was the time allotted to me, was inadequate and it would take another six dreadful visits, that is, more than 18 months based on the average waiting period of three months per visit, before I could have all my fillings done.
She explained that while each patient was entitled to about 20 minutes, the shortened time was to allow for emergency cases. She would not tell me how many emergencies there were each day and how much time each required.
Last month, I had another filling done and was upset about the cash deposit imposed, but I paid for my next appointment in May anyway.
The clinic is aware that about 30 to 40 per cent of its patients failed to turn up over the past year. If so, these slots could have been used more productively by patients who needed them on the day, like me, without compromising the clinic's emergency considerations.
Only 10 more minutes would have enabled me to have a second filling and would have shortened my schedule of visits.
Lim Fah Kiong
Dental service: Be proactive and flexible
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I WISH to recall my experience with Toa Payoh Polyclinic's dental clinic in relation to the reply by Dr Joseph Soon, director of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics' dental division ('Clinic appointment', Feb 25).
In October last year, a dentist told me I needed seven fillings. On that visit, I was not given a filling but was charged for consultation and polishing.
In December, a dentist gave me one filling and when I asked for at least one more, the reply was, sorry, one filling per visit.
When I asked the nurse, I was told that 10 minutes, which was the time allotted to me, was inadequate and it would take another six dreadful visits, that is, more than 18 months based on the average waiting period of three months per visit, before I could have all my fillings done.
She explained that while each patient was entitled to about 20 minutes, the shortened time was to allow for emergency cases. She would not tell me how many emergencies there were each day and how much time each required.
Last month, I had another filling done and was upset about the cash deposit imposed, but I paid for my next appointment in May anyway.
The clinic is aware that about 30 to 40 per cent of its patients failed to turn up over the past year. If so, these slots could have been used more productively by patients who needed them on the day, like me, without compromising the clinic's emergency considerations.
Only 10 more minutes would have enabled me to have a second filling and would have shortened my schedule of visits.
Lim Fah Kiong
