The Differences Between Chinese and Foreign Hospital Stays!
Last December, I unfortunately contracted COVID-19 while traveling on a large cruise ship. I was admitted to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (QE II) for three days, during which I thoroughly understood the differences between Chinese and foreign hospitals.
Firstly, let's talk about the issue of companionship. Australian hospitals do not allow any companions, nor is it necessary. In my ward, there were four elderly patients with COVID-19, two of whom were a married couple in their late 80s. They had been hospitalized for quite some time, yet none of their children or grandchildren came to accompany them. Their daughter only called them briefly each day. In contrast, in China, when an elderly person is hospitalized, their children and grandchildren take turns to accompany them. If a middle-aged person or a child is hospitalized, they must also have a companion. At night, they may rent a single mattress and sleep in the corridor or hire a nurse for several hundred yuan per day. When someone falls ill, the whole family is restless; this is not an exaggeration. In other words, the responsibility of a nurse is shifted onto the patient's family members.
Secondly, all three meals are provided by the hospital and delivered to your bedside. Although I couldn't eat anything at the time due to the loss of taste and appetite caused by the virus, I still forced myself to eat a little of everything. Each meal provided by the hospital was well-balanced and nutritious.
Thirdly, there are toilets and showers in the hospital rooms, which can be used at any time.
Fourthly, all expenses, including meals, are completely covered. I stayed in the hospital for three days and didn't pay a penny.
Fifthly, there are no special VIP rooms in the hospital. Even if you are the Prime Minister, Governor, or Mayor, you still have to wait in line, stay in the same type of ward, eat the same food, and receive the same treatment as everyone else. There is no special privilege card like the blue social security card that only the privileged class in China possesses. Everyone has the same green Medicare health insurance card!
Lastly, in Chinese hospitals, it is common to give red envelopes as gifts. The attending doctor, head nurse, and anesthesiologist are indispensable, and it is expected to give them red envelopes. However, in Australian hospitals, none of the medical staff would dare to accept red envelopes, and the patients do not give them either. This is
