A Tender Touch...

Today, I revisited the reason why I am in public healthcare.

I stumbled into healthcare as another job some 15 years ago. I was lucky to have a boss and now an informal mentor who told me very early in my career to "stay focus on the patient". There were many times that I have looked across to "greener pastures" during times in healthcare when things got confusing but then I learnt long ago that "the grass is always greener on the other side". When I took the time to "relook" at what I do in healthcare, I am often encouraged that what I do benefits the patient. Not quite the same way a doctor may diagnose and treats the patient but in the way a patient experiences medical services.

About 4 years ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and she was hospitalised in the hospital that i work in. She suffered badly as the disease ravaged her lungs. She was often breathless and in continuous pain. To relieve her pain, strong painkillers were prescribed but did little to alleviate her pain. There was a moment... a moment that I remembered well to tell me that healthcare is not all about science, it was also (sometimes more so) about care, compassion and genuine concern. As my grandma was grimazing in pain, a nurse came up to her, put an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder and told her in hainanese (my grandma's dialect) that she will be alright. At that moment, my grandma seemed to experience relieve and comfort seemed to have descended on her. Perhaps no medicine can do that, but a genuine tender touch made all the difference. This is healthcare.

Today, in the midst of my many meetings, I thought about what I do and took comfort that the effort that I put in my job has been worthwhile. As I looked around me and saw my fellow colleagues giving of themselves, I silently smiled and assured that Singapore healthcare will get even better - not because we are better organised or science has improved (even these are important) but more because we have so many people who care enough about patients.

To all my colleagues in healthcare, cheers and thank you for all that you do!