I was immediately put on the drip and taken off all food except for two glasses of plain water a day. This being my first stay in a hospital, and with all the pain and discomfort I was going through, I naturally had great apprehensions of my week-long stay there.

The attentiveness and professionalism given to me by the nurses on duty, as well as the medical specialists, throughout the week I was there helped remove all my apprehensions. Their warm, cheery greetings and smiles helped tremendously in boosting my sagging morale.

Within five days, I had recovered sufficiently to be put on a liquid diet. When I asked for a cup of Milo to help ease my hunger, although it was well past meal times in the evening, the cheery nurse told me 'no problem' and brought me the drink within a few minutes. Later in the night, I asked for another cup of Milo before I went to bed. The same cheery reply.

Who says hospital care cannot be as good as that of a hotel. Perhaps it is time for an audit company to set up an Excellence Award for Hospitals to recognise those who excel in both medical and hospitality services to their patients.

In this age and time, many of those who are admitted to hospitals would like to have their stays as memorable as the best hotel they have stayed in.

Stephen Chu Siew Wah