Family slapped with $800 bill for 30min ambulance trip

[Ingenius]

 

SINGAPORE - All they wanted was a way to send their 92-year-old mother to the hospital.

 

The Chngs called the 1-777 Non-Emergency Ambulance Service (NEAS) last month. An ambulance operator quoted them $180 and some additional charges for the trip.

 

But at the end of the 30-minute ride from their home in Choa Chu Kang to Singapore General Hospital, the family was hit with an $800 bill.

 

Some of the add-ons on the bill included $150 for oxygen, $80 for bandages and $200 for painkillers.

 

The private ambulance operator, Singapore Medical Care Training and Services (SMCT), has since been suspended by the NEAS Quality Committee.

 

The Ministry of Health said it had received eight complaints, including the Chngs', since SMCT joined the NEAS network on Feb 8. It is understood that most of the complaints were about overcharging.

 

The Chngs' mother, Madam Lim Soon Oh, had a fall at home the day before and the pain was causing her to skip her meals and medicine. Worried, her three sons decided to send her to the hospital for a checkup on May 10.

 

Mr Edwin Chng, 56, an engineer, needed an ambulance as his mother could not get into a car or taxi as her fall prevented her from bending her knees.

 

When the vehicle arrived, the paramedic told the family that the mother needed painkillers.

 

On the ride to the hospital, paramedics put her on an intravenous (IV) drip and administered oxygen. They also placed two bandages on her knees.

 

One of her sons, Mr Jason Chng, 53, said he did not think of questioning the ambulance attendant or to find out the cost of the various treatments. Their brother, Mr David Chng, 66, a chauffeur, went along with the ambulance.

 

He said: "They showed me a list, everything was a minimum of $10, $20. We thought that since they are professionals, they should know what they are doing. We didn't want to stop them... After all, we want the best for our mother. I thought that at most, it would cost $400."

 

Despite the shock of the bill, they decided to pay up because Mr Edwin Chng's and his mother's identity cards were with the ambulance staff.

 

"All we wanted was to transport my mum to the hospital, any additional treatment she needed could be provided by our family doctor, or even the hospital," said Mr Jason Chng.

 

When The New Paper contacted SMCT in early June, its spokesman said: "We are a private emergency ambulance operator with no subsidy or third party support or funding. Our charges may appear to be high as they are non-subsidised... In our view the charges are most reasonable.

 

"Other operators may be cheaper as they have low overheads and low expenses."

 

Besides ambulance services, SMCT provides home nursing services and is an accredited training centre, which provides first aid and medical training for medical personnel and the public, according to its website.

 

They have a total of five ambulances, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) website.

 

The 1-777 scheme was started in 1998 for those who require ambulances for non-emergency cases.

 

There are 20 private ambulance operators registered in the scheme. There is a list of the operators and charges on the SCDF website. Mr Jason Chng felt that his family has been penalised for being considerate. "We saw our case as non-urgent and called 1-777. The price is ridiculous for a transport of a non-emergency patient to the hospital."

 

The Chngs' $800 bill

 

Emergency call $180

 

Oxygen $170

 

IV drip $150

 

Bandages $80

 

Painkillers $200

 

Miscellaneous $20

 

 

[Ingenius]

Isn't this galling ?! Look at the bill, $200 for pain killers ?! what kind of rip off is this ? someone has to check on these ambulance operators, preying on the sick is most appalling.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Ingenius

[Ahseng]

WASEH ...morphine as painkiller?

[Ender]

Non-emergency case seems to be alot more expensive than emergency. It doesn't pay to be considerate. My Father was severely dehydrate due to diarrhea to an extreme low blood pressure. We call the emergency ambulance from civil defence to KTP hospital and was not charge at all for the ambulance. We pay the hospital A&E plus the hospitlisation bill.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Ender

[Subutai]

Knn, they hoping to fetch those can claim insurance one is it?

 

Their charges are ridiculously high.

 

Wait, did they withhold the NRIC cards of the patient and kin as ransom?

[Sosaria]

Actually if the private ambulance operator is already suspended by the NEAS Quality Committee, after so many different complaints - then there is no need for this guy to agree to the bill and pay them.

 

So what if his IC is being held by the ambulance operator? Just make a police report if they refuse to return the IC. If there's dispute, just ask them to make police report also lah, let the law settle.

 

As far as I know, it's illegal to hold on to another person's IC, as it may be misused for criminal purposes.

[Ingenius]

The thing is, the caller has no choice as they dont get to choose the operator, and also, in such emergency, where got time to compare prices ? and the prices, it is totally unethical.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Ingenius

[Jman888]

something is wrong with the 1-777 scheme and their partner ambulance operator <_<

[13177]

30 min ambulance ride become like staying in hospital for few days?!

[Newdrive]

really cut throat

[Freeman]

Looks more like PAIN INTENSIFIER. Take already lagi pain.

[Ingenius]

Actually, the NEAS, or whatever authority in charge of regulating the ambulance companies, should have set the guidelines for pricing as well, else they can always collude and monopolise the price. after all, this is one trade which has a high entry barrier. the authorities really should have forsight and initiative in this , rather than wait for the poor to be exploited for some time already. i wonder how many people have een victimised in silence already. Shame on the NEAS !!

Edited July 2, 2013 by Ingenius

[Bobby_tan]

Walao now I know never to call the non emergency ambulance...even bleddy regular ambulance dun charge man...$200 for painkillers. What the hell they give, ganja isit?

[Ingenius]

oxygen for $170 ? ridiculous !

Edited July 2, 2013 by Ingenius

[Tonyng]

 

Worse then Susan. At least her carrot was loaded and agreed to whatever charges.

 

 

But I think company will get off more lightly than her.

[Adrianli]

When my mum discharge from TTSH, the nurses gave us a list of ambulances to call should we need to send my mum back for checkups. They cost between $40-45 per trip only. Used their list of ambulances twice already.

 

The family should used the ambulance service associated with the hospital mah.

[Jman888]

When my mum discharge from TTSH, the nurses gave us a list of ambulances to call should we need to send my mum back for checkups. They cost between $40-45 per trip only. Used their list of ambulances twice already.

 

The family should used the ambulance service associated with the hospital mah.

 

 

i believe they dun have one, in the case of non emergency, the recommend number to call is 1-777, they dun have a choice.

[Antlau]

looking at the prices that those NEAS charges, wouldn't it be cheaper and more transparent using taxi services with wheelchair carrying capability instead, as shown in the website attached below?

 

http://www.taxisingapore.com/wheelchair-taxis/