I woke up and went to brush my teeth. Despite the fact that there are only three toilets serving the C-class wards and another two toilets serving the B2-class wards, there is no queue for the toilets. This is sad as it implies that most patients are confined to their beds.
Yesterday night, I was issued a change of clothes. This signals to me that I am to shower today. (There are two types of uniforms for the patients. For those in the wards, they are to wear a tie-string long skirt with a tie-string V-necked blouse. These are in a dull pink, light cotton material. For those who need to go to the operating theatres, they need to change into a white blouse with strings behind and a red kimono-style bathroom robe.)
This morning the nurses dispensing the medicine put on a yellow vest that says: "Do Not Disturb. I am serving medicine". (I may not be 100% accurate about the second line as I was not wearing my spectacles). What a hilarious statement! What happened earlier? Did doctors/other nurses/patients disturbed the nurses who were dispensing medicine? Anyway, kudos to them for the courage to implement changes to improve the quality of their worklife!
I was happy to have Yong Tau Foo for breakfast. It came complete with sweet sauce and chilli. Yummy!
Just then, my surgeon came. He examined me and pronounced me fit to be discharged. Hooray! I quickly sent short messages to inform my husband, my boss and my brother.
After breakfast, I told the nurses I needed to go for a shower. They promptly taped my abdomen with a plastic bag and some tape to cover the dressing. Two of the three C-class toilets were occupied. The lock on the third one was not working. A nurse told me to use one of the B2-class toilets.
B2-class and C-class patients enjoy many similar benefits. For example, patients get similar subsidies on medicine for outpatient services. The wards are ventilated by fans (instead of air-conditioning). They share the same patients' lounge where they can watch television programmes or read the newspapers. Even the toilets look similar. B2-class ward has six beds. C-class wards has six beds too but they are partitioned off by 'half-walls' instead of 'full-walls'.
Besides the seating toilet on the right, there is a covered bin across the toilet and a laundry basket for the uniforms due for washing. Moving into the unit, there is the basin on the right and a shower on the left. There is an adjustable seat that is attached to the wall near the shower. There is also a shower curtain. However, there is no demarcation on the floor so when one showers, the whole floor is wet.
I shampooed my hair and showered. I had completed my set of self-help skills needed to qualify for a discharge i.e. be able to get out of bed independently, be able to eat independently, be able to walk independently and be able to take care of my toileting needs.
Physically, I am ready to go home.
5:18 PM
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