And when are standard operating procedures to be observed with a dash of common sense, or are they to be followed exactly by the book?

On May 3, a man - a husband, a father, a grandfather, a published author - passed away at the young age of 60 because he did not receive emergency medical treatment in a timely manner.

My husband, Chee Kok Liang, is dearly missed and we cannot bring him back. But we hope our story will help others who may face a similar situation in the future.

This experience began with my husband exhibiting signs of breathlessness and extreme fatigue and tightness in his chest. I dialled 1777 for a non-emergency ambulance. I told the person who answered that this was an emergency and that we needed to get medical attention immediately.

As my husband's doctors were based at a private hospital close to our home, I requested for an ambulance to take him there. The person on the line said the ambulance would be delayed for up to 45 minutes! The person added that the ambulance would not be able to transport him to a private hospital, but could take him to the nearest government hospital.

I was advised to call the Singapore Civil Defence Force's emergency ambulance service at 995. I did so - and was redirected back to 1777. This time, the person on the line again explained that they had procedures to follow and could only take the patient to the National University Hospital (NUH), twice as far away.

A friend who was with me grabbed hold of the phone and firmly said that this was an emergency - if they did not act immediately, this man would die. The reply she got was that she would have to hold on while the ambulance operator got the supervisor's approval. By now, we did not want to incur a further delay, so we agreed to having my husband sent to NUH.

Finally, a guy with an orange jacket - the ambulance driver -- showed up about 15 to 20 minutes later. He tried to take my husband's blood pressure. The device had an error reading on the first try and he couldn't get the thing to work again a second time.

He had left the cuff on my husband's arm still filled with air and didn't know how to get it off. My friend, who has some medical knowledge, had to give instructions!

About five to 10 minutes later, two paramedics arrived. They asked a lot of questions and made me fill out forms before they agreed to transport my husband. All this took at least another half-hour, after which they put him into the ambulance.

Loading my husband, they insisted that - following protocol - he must lie flat even after they had been told he had COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and could not breathe lying down.

We followed in our own car, right on the ambulance's tail. Despite sirens and flashing lights, motorists did not give way. Finally, at a traffic light just outside NUH, the ambulance had to stop as the cars in front were not moving.

When the light turned green, the ambulance still did not move - it had broken down. The back doors opened and the paramedics came out to tell my friend the "procedure" was to wait for another ambulance to arrive, but due to the urgency, would we transport the patient in our car? My friend said yes, of course!

As we tried to move my husband from the ambulance into the back seat of the car, there was an incredible lack of courtesy and consideration from other motorists, who would not stop despite the obvious sight of a hospital gurney on the road.

One paramedic went with us and in the back seat of the car, continued with CPR. My husband had already passed out and was looking quite grey. The paramedic told me to keep calm and to drive slowly.

When asked, he told us not to worry - he would call ahead to the hospital to get the emergency staff ready.

Upon arriving at the NUH emergency unit, however, there were no medical personnel to be seen. My friend rushed into the building and shouted: "Cardiac arrest, help!"

There was only one nurse behind a counter, so my friend pulled a gurney out to the car by herself. Two Samaritans graciously helped to lift my husband from the car. It was at least another 3 minutes before medical staff came out to take over.

My husband was declared dead a half-hour later.

Revisiting the events of the day is very difficult. However, I feel it's important to ask the authorities to look into several areas:

Procedures and policies:
I understand the need for them. But when time is of the essence, is there room for flexibility? Had we headed for the private hospital, we would have reached there quicker.

Also, the paramedics seemed more concerned with filling forms and following protocol. When someone is in need of immediate emergency care, shouldn't form-filling be a secondary priority, and can't it be done at a more convenient time?

Personally, I think if anyone were to have an medical emergency, I would advise them to think twice before calling for an ambulance - it would be quicker by car or taxi.

Competent staff and reliable equipment: Is it appropriate to send a driver with inadequate training to the scene of an emergency? Also, the ambulance breakdown should not have happened - the authorities must ensure their vehicles are well-maintained.

Road code with regards to ambulances: Obstructing an ambulance could mean the difference between life and death for someone. The Highway Code states that if you encounter one with sirens on, give way by moving to the side of the road. Obviously, Singapore motorists do not comply with this. This code could be enforced more strictly.

Since this incident with my husband, every time I notice an ambulance with sirens on, I have observed that they are blocked by motorists who refuse to give way.

I urge everyone to be aware and decide wisely when dealing with a loved one's life. You shouldn't have to put your life, or that of a loved one, at the mercy of "standard operating procedures".

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