Shenzhen: So 'Patient-Friendly' You Might Just Become One!

[Iris Marquardt]

Wailing, who can possibly understand the pain of healthcare workers on the job? Let me share with everyone our daily routine here, especially those working in healthcare in Shenzhen, where the feeling may be even more profound.

• What is Weekend for Us? Can it Be Eaten?

  • For us medical professionals, taking a weekend off is practically an unattainable luxury.
  • If I’m lucky, maybe I can take one day off on Saturday. But Sunday? Unless my house is burning down, I’m definitely at the hospital.
  • The result? My family or friends’ rest days never align with mine.

• The Bittersweet Reality of "Off-Peak" Scheduling

  • The concept sounds great: "off-peak breaks." In theory, there are fewer people at tourist spots and prices are low—what a dream!
  • But in reality: I can’t find anyone to go on trips with! Everyone else is working while I’m not!
  • At the end of the year, I feel like my social circle has disappeared. There was only one wedding at which I attended among my roommates; aside from that, I haven’t left town since. It’s really disheartening.

• Different Treatment in Different Cities

  • My mentor in Beijing told me that if they're working at a community health center, they can either arrange for time off in lieu of holidays or receive extra pay for overtime.
  • But in Shenzhen… hmm. Even if one doesn’t take enough legal public holidays, they’re neither compensated with off days nor receive additional compensation.

• Dilemma and Ruminations: Healthcare Workers' Concerns

  • I understand that from the patient’s perspective, it’s inconvenient if fewer doctors are available during weekends.
  • But healthcare workers are humans too... This conflict wears us down mentally and physically.
  • Friendly Reminder/Tiny Outcry:
    • This might give insight into travel tips for Shenzhen. I’ve heard many medical friends working in Guangzhou complain that patients in Shenzhen have higher expectations of availability due to concentrated healthcare resources. They feel entitled to expect that there are enough doctors on standby whenever needed.
    • Hence, if you happen to require medical attention while visiting Shenzhen, please mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that medical staff might be extremely busy with long waiting times; they may already be overworked and haven't rested for a long time.

• I truly wish to relocate to a city where properly resting on weekends is considered normal! [Crying face cat emoji]

• To be honest, having regular shifts would work too… it really isn’t asking for much!

[Karen Zulauf]

Yeah, on weekdays, I'm often by myself and don't really know what to do for fun.

[Zachary Hayes]

So, can I get weekends off in Chengdu too?

[Lula Schmidt]

Patients in Shenzhen complain so easily. Even a normal tone of voice might come across as a bad attitude to them. Now at work, I find myself having to soften my voice and use more polite interjections. It's really tough.

[Jermaine Satterfield]

Weekends are packed with patients, just a sea of people. So, of course, the entire staff has to be on duty.

[Rosemarie Sawayn PhD]

It probably depends on the hospital and the department, right? Many hospitals, especially the city-level ones, give their staff Saturdays and Sundays off. But for me, I have to work half the weekends each month.

[Miss Alison Collier]

I only wear makeup maybe twice a year now. I really, really miss the days when I could wear pretty dresses, put on makeup, and hang out with friends on the weekends.

[Andrea Hand]

Seriously! Back at my old hospital, fewer people worked on Saturdays and Sundays, so we could take turns having days off. But here in Shenzhen, they don't allow weekend days off—everyone has to work.