In a heartfelt revelation, Singaporean actress Rachel Wan recently opened up about her father’s passing, expressing that he died alone in a Singapore hospital due to understaffing. Wan’s emotional account sheds light on the toll of overworking and the need for a healthier work-life balance in Singapore.
Embracing a New Life Down Under
Singapore actress Rachel Wan, along with her boyfriend Edwin Goh, first garnered attention when they announced their move to Sydney, Australia, citing reasons ranging from the city’s appealing attributes like great coffee and cooler weather to the crucial factor of a better work-life balance.
Wan’s perspective on her own life took a transformative turn when she lost her father and best friend within two months, prompting her to reevaluate how she spends her time.
Unveiling a Painful Truth
In a candid Instagram video shared on August 25th, Rachel Wan addressed an issue that had been weighing on her for some time. She articulated her motivation behind moving to Australia, emphasizing the significance of work-life balance. However, a recent discovery had shaken her worldview profoundly.
Wan recounted an encounter with a nurse who had worked at the Singapore hospital where her father had passed away before migrating to Australia, mirroring Wan’s own journey.
In Singapore, nurses could find themselves responsible for as many as 12 patients at once. In contrast, Australian nurses are entrusted with a maximum of six patients, and they are mandated to rest for a specific period before taking on the next shift – a practice reportedly absent in Singapore.
A Grief-Stricken Farewell
The painful memory of her father’s passing resurfaced as Wan recalled the events of that fateful day.
Doctors had transferred her father from the emergency ward to the general ward due to his limited time left. In order to visit him, Wan and her family were required to take a Covid-19 test at the time to ensure they were negative.
Tragically, while they were undergoing the tests, her father passed away without anyone by his side. In a chilling twist, Wan disclosed that they were the ones who discovered his lifeless body in the ward. When she inquired about the lack of notification, the doctor allegedly cited understaffing as the reason.
Rachel Wan’s poignant narrative extends beyond her personal grief. She recognizes that overworking is not an achievement and that work-life imbalance is not a badge of honor.
The Power of Shared Experiences
In a poignant Instagram caption, Wan acknowledges the courage it took to share her story and expresses a wish that someone had informed her of these realities earlier, potentially sparing her immense suffering. She believes that her story might resonate with others who have faced similar challenges in Singapore’s demanding work environment.
Wan concludes her heartfelt message by clarifying that her father’s passing was not due to Covid-19 but rather oesophageal cancer.