The system of sending patients home from hospital with a discharge summary is a laudable step in healthcare and for no reason should it be interfered with.

However, the practice of keeping frail patients and their carers waiting in a chilly lounge for long hours is inhumane and should no longer be tolerated. Mind you, these patients would be vacating beds needed by others on the emergency waiting list. This custom seems like stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

It’s very educational for the staff doctors to write up the summaries but let us also teach them in their training to give due respect to patients’ waiting time.

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