The Fugitive

Agree. The fact there is nobody with Power of Attorney is, perhaps, the most worrying as it applies whatever the outcome. Another poster has raised concerns about the possible motives of the 'friends' trying to help. I once had to seek out of hours help from my Local Authority Social Services Department. I know they have a duty social worker available 24 hours per day. Local Authority social workers are also present on NHS hospital wards ensuring that suitable accommodation and any necessary care packages are available and in place prior to patients being discharged. If 'push comes to shove' establishing a place of residence and registering with a GP can be circumvented. Repatriation could be made possible by taking the gentlemen to A/E upon arrival, explaining that he had a 'funny turn' and asking, in view of his age, would they kindly check him out? Once he was booked in his friend would then leave him in the care of the NHS and Social Services Dept.

Sheryl has pointed out that the gentleman isn't a 'basket case' and that the UK NHS wouldn't provide custodial care without additional medical needs. In this case, local authority social services dept. would be involved as they are obligated to provide support for his social requirements. I have had family experience of Alzheimers disease and both residential and nursing homes. Aunt was diagnosed in her mid sixties. Her husband managed to cope with her at home for as long as possible but finally she went into a nursing home where she was very well looked after until she died aged 81. She was partially funded apparently. A GP visited the home and, as you say, prescribed medication is administered by qualified nursing staff. In other situations, staff called ambulances and the resident went to hospital, sometimes never to return.

Certainly is. Sheryl has pointed this out many times. It's mainly of use to those who can't get/afford healthcare insurance i.e. 'better than nothing'. When I had to buy mine the premium was only 3,000 baht per annum.

There may be a problem in Thailand if he needs hospital treatment and all his income/savings are being used to pay his residential home fees. In UK he would get treatment (at least in theory) irrespective of his ability to pay.

My Non-O Retirement Visa, extension and opening of a bank account was conditional upon buying Bangkok Bank Personal Accident Insurance. A selling point was that it's well worth buying in any case because it provides accident cover if you 'come off' your moto. However, that doesn't apply if aged 65 or older.

Thanks for your info. Experiences vary. I did exactly that (not Jomtien). The IO noticed my previous extension was at Chon Buri. She asked; 'How much did you pay your Visa Agent?'. She processed my retirement extension then said; 'If you wish to do it through an agent in future, we can help at lower cost'.

Yes you can. If it's of any use to anyone, I applied for another retirement extension 30 days in advance of expiry of the existing one. I intended exiting/reentering within the period of my present extension. I asked for a single reentry permit applicable during the 30 days of my 'old' extension. The IO told me she would process my new extension first, therefore the reentry permit would be effective for anytime during the next 13 months.

The very best suggestions! Others amount to abandoning him on the UK NHS assuming they could be tricked/convinced to admit him to hospital in the first place.

My Thai family, friends and neighbours are still driving cars they bought a decade ago. Honda City and Toyota Vios circa. 2002 silver colour. 4 doors, very comfortable, large boot, economical to run and any local garage can fix them very cheaply. Thai neice got a complete respray for 10,000 baht. There are so many still on the road that spares shouldn't be a problem for many years. A lady schoolteacher friend is a cautious type and considers the 'Por Ror Bor' 700 baht per annum compulsory motor insurance inadequate thus takes out a higher level of cover on her Vios.

Glad you asked. It reminded me! The lady told me a British client who runs a bar 'over the road' brought correspondence he'd received from HMRC into her office for her to read to him and explain what he had to do. She had to tell him she doesn't know the procedures of the UK Income Tax office and therefore isn't qualified to give him guidance.

My Pattaya Visa Agent told me the vast majority of her clients are British retirees. Most receive UK State Pension only and have no savings. Literacy is a problem too.

Thanks Sheryl. It's protection from mumps that I view as the main benefit.

A friend recently told me she was offered MMR vaccine when attending her GP's practice. She was told that measles is on the rise. This lady is of age where she didn't receive it previously (introduced in UK in 1988). Neither did she receive the measles only vaccine (introduced in 1968). She suffered measles as a child. So did I. We understood that we had lifelong immunity as a result. Is that still true? I've read that those born prior to 1957 are considered immune to measels and mumps. Mumps is worse in adults than children. Never having contracted mumps or German measels, is it worthwhile seeking MMR vaccination even if born prior to 1957?

Agree. Thai father-in-law was once a coach driver for Chan Tour. Later in life he sold his house and bought a small farm. Wasn't very good at it. He liked his drinking and smoking. He owned two Honda Waves. One was always under repair after he fell off whilst intoxicated. Wife wouldn't tolerate him in the bedroom and he slept in a partitioned off corner of the living room. One morning his radio was causing annoyance. He couldn't turn it off because he wasn't with us any longer. He was 71.

Thai wife believes that hard work in the rice paddies and exposure to sun causes the majority of Thais in our region to die in their 60s.

It's obvious that such admirable campaigns as TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) are/would be ineffective where ten million (as already mentioned) are involved. Then there are the objectors to such schemes. Requires teams of dog catchers and humane destruction.

Thanks. Helpful information. I watch the odd film and documentary now and again. Never considered a subscription service. Recently found 'Pluto.tv' which is apparently legit and free. Only one advert during each commercial break. Geo-blocked in Thailand but works perfectly well with my one dollar per month VPN - 'SmartDNSProxy'.

You missed the point. The proven guilty who've been released are irrelevant. They're marked men anyway. Mossad are known for pursuing and assassinating people all over the world, even decades later.

I don't need to do anything. We all know the answer. Internment didn't go down well in Northern Ireland either.

Have all the released Palestinian prisoners been convicted? That involves evidence and representation for the accused. Have they exhausted their entitlement to appeal?

Top comment!

Good question. I've thought that way myself about phones versus tablets. If you could only have a phone, tablet or a laptop, which one would most people opt for do you think?

United Kingdom National Health Service dentists have been doing this for decades. Many reported cases along the years of unnecessary fillings in children. Used to be free treatment until age 21. Now up to 18 or 19 if in full time education. One dentist I went to had a yacht in the Bahamas.

I have a Samsung A7 which I keep charged up as backup. As you say, it's OK for communication. However, can't install my banking apps so it's not really a fully functioning backup phone.

Not the answer the OP is looking for but my Mrs has a friend with a mobile phone shop. She buys second hand five year old iPhones for both of us. She paid 8,000 baht for each of our iPhone 8 Plus's (256 GB) about three years ago. My old iPhone 7 Plus went to my stepdaughter who still uses it today. I don't care about the camera but my Mrs does. I use the NFC function but my Mrs doesn't. Single physical SIM isn't good. I use a VOIP virtual mobile number for home country calls and SMS OTP's. Would like eSIM and 5G mobile data network capability in that order.