Patient reminded to use call bell if he needed help
WE EMPATHISE with the condition of Ms Ivy Teo's father and the stress it creates for the family.
Her father has a history of multiple strokes. He was admitted to a ward with a designated 'high fall-risk' cubicle following an acute stroke.
There, our nurses keep vigil and provide frequent assistance to patients when they wish to move around, and render aid promptly whenever alarm devices such as the call bell are activated.
During his stay, Mr Teo had consistently demonstrated the ability to call for nurses' assistance via the call bell at his bedside.
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On Oct 24, our nurses had, during their ward rounds, reminded Mr Teo to use the call bell if he needed assistance. Unfortunately, when our nurse was attending to an adjacent patient and had her back to him, Mr Teo fell. He was seen to immediately but sustained a cervical injury, which led to further weakness in his limbs. We understand Ms Teo's mother had earlier requested that the fourth cot side of the patient's bed be raised.
However, for the comfort and safety of patients who are able to call for assistance, our hospital practises raising only three of the four cot sides of the bed as this has been shown to help them feel less anxious or 'trapped', and also reduces the chance of a serious injury should they attempt to get down from the bed unassisted.
We apologise that our staff may not have conveyed the practice clearly to Mrs Teo.
Mr Teo's subsequent development of another stroke during his hospitalisation was clinically unrelated to his fall.
The family's distress over the sudden turn of events is understandable. We deeply regret Mr Teo's fall while in our care, despite our best efforts to watch over him.
Clinical Associate Professor Thomas Lew
Chairman, Medical Board
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_764146.html
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