I had registered with the FP Clinic's clerk at 8.15am that day and waited for 45 minutes when she informed me that I would be attended to after Patient X.

However, when Patient Y arrived, he was given priority because he had an appointment.

As a walk-in patient, I would have to wait until all patients with appointments have been attended to, even though they arrive later. This meant my waiting time would be extended indefinitely.

After Patient X had left, I appealed to Dr Lim to relax this practice and he kindly obliged after attending to Patient Y.

His kindness is much appreciated. I have had the experience of a prolonged waiting time and was the last patient to be seen on an occasion where Dr Lim was not on duty .

FP Clinic patients can have their waiting times reduced if they fix an appointment earlier.

On the same day, I requested for a change in my appointment on Feb 14 as I had been advised that Dr Lim would not be available for consultation in the afternoon.

After a quick check, the registration clerk told me that there was no available slot before Feb 14 or in the morning of that day.

The appointment fixed was through no fault of mine. So at 9.45am, as soon as I reached home, I called the feedback hotline of the National Healthcare Group and explained my dilemma of not being able to replenish my medication for hypertension and high cholesterol.

Half an hour later, the officer asked me to contact the operating officer at Hougang Polyclinic who would resolve my problem.

I would like to express my appreciation to both officers for their prompt attention to my problem and their kind assistance on that day.

Grace Cheah Gek Neo (Ms)