LETTER | First off, I’d like to salute the fine work of the emergency response workers who are tirelessly testing and treating Covid-19 patients. We are heavily indebted to you.

But let me tell you about a serious concern I have over the deplorable cleanliness level at the maternity block of the Penang Hospital and lack of social distancing and wearing of masks among doctors and nurses there.

I went to the Penang Hospital for a prenatal check-up on Thursday (May 14), after being referred by a health clinic near my home.

The clinic suspected that the baby had IUGR or intrauterine growth restriction as the baby was measuring smaller than its gestational age of 36 weeks.

Here’s my gripe: The Penang Hospital's Patients’ Assessment Centre (PAC) where I was examined, was very filthy.

There was a piece of used glove on the floor, discarded tissues, and it was generally a mess.

The mattress pad on the examination bed appeared to be filthy. There were three other expectant mothers, who were scanned before me while I was there, and the mattress pad was not changed or sanitised in between patients.

On another corner, nurses were seen in close contact with each other with only one nurse seen donning a face mask.

A couple of the nurses were seen hugging each other at one point.

This is shocking conduct considering Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah advised the general public to practice 5Cs.

Equally disappointing was the service rendered to me by a doctor attending to me, who was condescending and rude.

Of course, as an expectant mother, one would have questions when you overhear a specialist saying that your baby’s abdomen was too small for its age.

You might say rudeness could be subjective. But let me give you an insight into this doctor's bedside manners:

“Very immature to decide where to deliver based on discharge time,” he said when I said I was concerned about going to a private hospital where I would be warded for too long after giving birth and picking up Covid-19 in the process.

“Go to a doctor you trust. (You will never know) I could have Covid-19,” he added.

The doctor was not wearing any face mask and appeared to be proud of his proclamation that he might have the disease.

“I've got 30 patients in the ward and five waiting for me here,” he said, when I interrupted him to clarify a small point.

Before I left, I was made aware that the doctor did not have another patient in the PAC ward and that was his last patient.

Now, I am forced to make a decision on whether I’d like to deliver in a filthy maternity ward or probably break the bank by delivering at a private hospital.

I’ve had a lot of trust in government hospitals but looking at the situation – lack of social distancing and serious hygiene issues, I’d say no. Never mind the cocky doctors.

I am writing this to help other mothers who are coming here for their check-ups and have no other choice but to rely on primary healthcare such as hospitals.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.