SINGAPORE — Actress Rachel Wan, who recently relocated to Sydney, Australia, revealed in an emotional Instagram video that her father died alone in a
SINGAPORE — Actress Rachel Wan, who recently relocated to Sydney, Australia, revealed in an emotional Instagram video that her father died alone in a Singapore hospital in 2022, reportedly due to understaffing. Wan shared that, at the time of his passing, she and other family members were required to undergo COVID-19 testing as her father was being transferred from the emergency to the general ward. Sadly, by the time they reached his room, he had already passed away.
In the video posted on August 26, Wan recounted asking the doctor why the family had not been informed sooner. The doctor apologized, explaining that the hospital was operating with limited staff.
Wan’s move to Australia was largely motivated by a search for a better work-life balance, she shared. She recalled meeting a nurse who had also worked in Singapore, including at the hospital where her father had died. This nurse described stark contrasts in healthcare practices between Singapore and Australia. For instance, in Australia, nurses are typically assigned a maximum of six patients, whereas in Singapore, one nurse may care for up to 12 patients at a time.
Australian nurses are also mandated to take designated rest periods between shifts, a rule not observed to the same extent in Singapore. These differences struck a chord with Wan, who felt reminded of the circumstances surrounding her father’s death. She expressed deep regret that she could not be by his side in his final moments, saying, “I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone when he passed.”
Wan also acknowledged that overworking is prevalent in various industries in Singapore. “Overworking is not an achievement. Having no work-life balance is not an achievement… Something about that has to change in Singapore,” she said, visibly moved.
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