Way back in 2004, I did one pre-admission checkup so I knew roughly what to expect. In fact, I had it simpler this time around as I was a PR and didn’t need to get a blood test for the student pass.

The process was a tad chaotic though. I suspect they hired students to run the simpler stations such as the vision test and ferrying the documents from the urine test centre to the X-ray centre. As such, instructions were not clear at times. I had no idea how to wear the hospital gown because I’m accustomed to the ones that overlap and tie at the side, but they used the old-style ones which tie in the back.

At some point, the young man next to me was told that they couldn’t find his urine sample… and it’s not as though many of us can provide another sample so soon after emptying our bladder. They found it in the end, so it turned out well for him.

I was assigned to Dr Catherine Chua for the last part of the checkup. She asked if I was still being followed up for my lymphoma, and after I said yes, she ticked the “fit for admission” column so I could rest easy. I told her my specialist was at NUH, and when I gave her his name she related some anecdotes. It was fun. I’m sure she found my medical history interesting and a welcome diversion from the run-of-the-mill students she gets 90% of the time.

She was kind enough to enquire about the course and wished me well, so that’s one hurdle crossed for me. I did have my worries if they might consider me unfit for admission but I guess I was worrying for nothing, as usual.