Latest news with #HospitalSultanIsmail
The Star
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
New system cuts down on waiting
Staying patient: Patients and their families waiting for their turn to receive medical treatment at Hospital Sultanah Aminah. The new system will streamline the process. JOHOR BARU: Johor's Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) is set to become the first public hospital in Malaysia to adopt a RM1mil smart queue system (SQS) aimed at reducing patients' waiting time. With the SQS, patients will no longer have to take separate queue numbers at the hospital's specialist clinics and pharmacy department. They can obtain a queue number by scanning a QR code with their smartphone and use the same queue number for their medical needs for the day. Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the SQS will begin in phases at HSA's specialist clinics before it is fully implemented by the end of the year. 'HSA sees about 2,000 patients each day, making it one of the busiest hospitals in the country. 'Once the SQS is fully implemented, we will hopefully replicate the system in other hospitals, such as Hospital Sultan Ismail and those in other districts to improve public healthcare delivery,' he said after visiting HSA here yesterday. Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon explained that the SQS was developed to address high patient volume and congestion issues faced by the hospital. 'At present, patients need to take a queue number to see a specialist and then take another number to queue up for their medication, which is time consuming. 'The SQS allows patients to know the number of patients ahead of them via a smartphone app so they can move around or go for tea or toilet breaks without worrying about losing their turn,' he added. At present, Ling said the system is being tested and that some patients have begun using it. Onn Hafiz said the SQS was part of the state's ongoing efforts to address issues faced by the hospital, in addition to upgrading eight wards, toilets and surau facilities. The state is working with non-governmental organisations, which had contributed new hospital beds and mattresses as well as an ambulance. He said that Waqaf An-Nur has stationed a mobile clinic at HSA's entrance to provide additional support for the hospital's emergency and trauma department, which tends to get very busy at night and on weekends. 'They will be assisting HSA five days a week to tend to non-critical or level five cases such as fever or cough, which do not require a specialist doctor's attention. 'I have also directed Ling to station at least two additional doctors a day at the emergency and trauma department on a locum basis. I believe that can be done by next week,' he said. When asked about the proposal for a multi-level carpark, Onn Hafiz said a value assessment study has been completed. 'I understand that funding has been secured and the value assessment has just concluded,' he said. Aside from the current practice of parking within hospital grounds, he said patients have the alternative of parking at a free carpark at Pantai Lido, across the road from the hospital. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation of RM500mil for first phase upgrades of the hospital on Sept 4, 2023. Among the proposed upgrades include the construction of a polyclinic and multi-storey car park to address hospital congestion.
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
RM1mil smart queue system to cut wait times at JB's Hospital Sultanah Aminah
JOHOR BARU: Johor has spent RM1mil to develop a smart queueing system that reduces waiting times at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), making it the first public hospital in the country to have such a facility. Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the smart queue system (SQS) would be introduced in phases at HSA's specialist clinics before it is fully implemented by the end of the year. 'HSA sees about 2,000 patients each day, making it one of the busiest hospitals in the country. 'Once the SQS is fully implemented, we will hopefully replicate it in other hospitals such as Hospital Sultan Ismail and those in other districts to improve public healthcare delivery,' he said after visiting HSA here on Tuesday (June 17). With the SQS, patients no longer need to take separate queue numbers at the respective specialist clinics and pharmacy. They can obtain a queue number by scanning a QR code and use the same number for their medical needs for the day. Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz added that the state government has also upgraded eight wards at HSA, collaborating with non-governmental organisations (NGO) for the contribution of beds and mattresses. 'Another NGO also contributed an ambulance, which was bought at a lower price as it is a reconditioned vehicle. 'It does not have to be brand new. As long as it is functioning well, we can address the shortage of ambulances,' he said.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Woman wins RM400k in suit over botched hysterectomy at govt hospital in Johor
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court in Johor awarded RM400,815.45 in damages to a woman who suffered long-term complications after undergoing a botched surgery to remove her uterus (hysterectomy) at a government hospital in 2018. The 43-year-old mother sued the government, Hospital Sultan Ismail and several doctors for medical negligence after developing a vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), a condition that causes persistent urine leakage following the surgery. According to the court document, the woman (plaintiff) underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO), on Dec 24, 2018, to address prolonged uterine bleeding. TAHBSO is a surgical procedure where the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are removed through an abdominal incision. However, the surgery led to a cascade of complications including internal bleeding, severe infection, incontinence, incisional hernia, and depression. The plaintiff required several follow-up surgeries and was eventually forced to seek treatment in Chennai, Indian in 2020 for corrective treatment, which successfully resolved her condition. On Dec 8, 2021, the plaintiff filed a writ of summons against the defendants, alleging medical negligence that caused her to suffer serious injuries. On Dec 1, 2022, the government who was the first defendant in the lawsuit agreed to accept full responsibility for the matter. Judge Datuk Seri Shamsulbahri Ibrahim said although the medical team had performed the surgery according to standard protocol, they failed to prevent or adequately respond to the post-surgical complications. "This is a medical negligence case... there is no evidence to show the defendants acted with ill will. "In fact, they made repeated efforts to treat the plaintiff and manage the complications," he said in his ground of judgment published on the Judiciary website yesterday. However, the court found that the plaintiff had endured significant pain, humiliation, and emotional distress during her recovery. The court said the plaintiff endured more than a year of ongoing suffering, which included repeated infections, abdominal pain, urinary leakage through the vagina, loss of sexual intimacy and symptoms of depression. "I find that a sum of RM300,000 is appropriate to be awarded to the plaintiff for the suffering she endured." The court also awarded RM35,000 for loss of income, RM9,652 for medical treatment in India, RM9,921 for travel costs, RM6,300 for adult diapers, RM10,000 for an expert report, and RM2,030 for family visits to the hospital.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Ensure infrastructure properly maintained
Jalan Skudai Lama in Johor Baru, near KIP Mall Tampoi, is filled with potholes and bumpy surfaces. This stretch of the road is always wet and damaged even after repairs are carried out. Local councils should fix potholes, faulty street lamps ahead of Visit Johor 2026 and before anything untoward occurs DURING an early morning drive to send my children to school, I was shocked to find a row of flickering street lamps as I was passing the Hospital Sultan Ismail entrance. Not one, but almost 10 LED lights were faulty at about 5.30am that day. It was quite eerie, especially when there was a cemetery across the main road. Many motorists would have had this scary experience before it was rectified days later. I have also noticed several other places with flickering street lamps. Why is this happening? Are the LED lights installed along major roads of poor quality? Last year, when I highlighted how our administrative centre, Kota Iskandar in Iskandar Puteri, was poorly lit, resulting in some fatal accidents, there was some interest from high-ranking Johor civil servants to discuss the matter. While the lighting around Kota Iskandar has since improved, I cannot say the same about all other major roads. Over the weekend, as I was driving around Johor Baru, especially around the Pasar Karat area, I noticed many of the decorative lights put up for Hari Raya Aidilfitri were not functioning. Why has no one from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) realised this? Maybe the lights are out because of an electrical short circuit due to the heavy rain these days, but more effort is needed to maintain these places. Besides Johor Baru, major roads along the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), Jalan Tebrau, Jalan Skudai and Pasir Gudang also have many faulty street lamps. Besides that, many of these roads are now riddled with potholes due to recent wet season. Some of the roads have been repaired but the fixes did not even last two weeks. The holes are now much bigger and deeper. Will our authorities only act after there is a death, either from a motorist skidding along a poorly lit road or a motorcyclist hitting a curb after going into a pot hole? With Johor being touted as the next economic powerhouse after the Klang Valley and with Visit Johor 2026 campaign next year, all these issues need to be quickly addressed to give confidence to potential investors and tourists. When it rains, these slippery, poorly lit roads are a danger to thousands of motorists. It is even more hazardous for motorcyclists travelling for work to Singapore as early as 4am. It is time for the three major local councils in Johor, namely MBJB, Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) to buck up. They should have a team patrolling the streets to identify and fix faulty lights, not just along major roads but also in housing areas and villages. The notion that the councils only maintain roads under their jurisdiction while the Public Works Department (JKR) maintains federal roads no longer holds water. Why can't local councils get the lights fixed first and then bill the cost to JKR or the road concessionaire? The public should also start highlighting these issues by calling the councils or reporting via the complaint hotline. Those involved in road accidents because of potholes or poor visibility should consider legal action against the local councils for dereliction of duty. Lawyer Norman Fernandez, who has handled over 20 pothole-related cases, said councils must stop treating road maintenance as a reactive duty. 'The authorities only act after someone is killed or seriously injured. By then, it is too late,' he said. Fernandez said local councils were responsible for ensuring safe roads. 'It is not the people's job to report potholes,' he said. 'Local councils must monitor road conditions regularly, especially before and after the rainy season. 'What is happening now is that roads are patched up after something untoward happens, and even then, the patching is often a temporary measure.' Fernandez said courts were more willing to award damages in pothole-related cases, citing a RM271,000 award last year by the Johor Baru Sessions Court to a man injured in a crash. He advised victims to act quickly to document everything before the pothole is patched up. 'If your car is damaged or if you are injured, take clear photos of the pothole and the surrounding area,' said Fernandez. 'Lodge a police report, get an itemised bill from the workshop and keep all receipts,' he added. Johor is a rich state and funds should be immediately allocated to all councils statewide to fix faulty street lamps and potholes. Such minor issues can mar the state and city's image as the southern gateway into Malaysia. It is paramount to divert resources to ensure all the state's roads are properly lit.
