Government hospitals, having to wait

[Jaggg88]

19 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

A few years ago when the late King was ill I went to pay my respects at Sirijaj Hospital. I walked around the grounds for a while and observed numerous Thais also paying their respect at the statue of his father in the grounds. After about an hour I decided to take a short cut through the public side of the hospital as it was a hot day and I thought it would be a cooler way to get back to the boat. The sight I saw was one of the most shocking I have ever seen - the corridor was lined with emergency patients on trolleys with crying and concerned family members around virtually each one. They must have been upwards of 30 patients - some of them no doubt dying from heart attacks or strokes or some such emergency. The fear and anxiety was etched on each face and a couple of doctors and nurses were running around almost in a panic deciding which one to treat first. I left the place in tears I have never seen so much suffering and fear in one place, sheltered life I have lived. 

Your story surprises me as I've had many experiences of public hospitals over the last 20 years and have never seen scenes as you describe. The main wards can be busy and uncomfortable but everyone was attended to. My A&E experience have been the same. My 180 bht medical checkup for renewing my driving licence last year was a breeze. No appointment and only 10 minute wait.

[justin case]

3 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Thats why having good insurance counts for a hell of a lot.

I want to choose who touches my body when I'm ill.

If I got the Big C or needed a hip replacement, or heavy heart surgery, or even my colonoscopy every few years I want to be in control of who my attending doctors are, surgeon and oncologist is.

Going public is cheap, you're absolutely right ... but you have zero control as to who prods or cuts into you. 

BNH and other privates are cheap ... if you have great private coverage ! .... (my) insurance covers the lot (not a red cent passed over other than my yearly premium) and I get treated like a king ... and no waiting to date ????

Damn they even great me at the door and escort me personally to m y doctors rooms.

Coming from OZ ... Thai premiums insurance hospital treatment is like ... a, a beautiful dream.   

 

those expensive MD's you pay in private hospitals

are the same as you see in government hospitals, which is their day job

 

medicine is big business, partially because of greedy private hospitals, greedy insurance companies and patients demanding services and medicine they really don't need, that is what makes it expensive and let's not forget, most people don't even pay 30 baht, all free...

 

thing is, there is no such thing as a free lunch

[Sheryl]

8 hours ago, justin case said:

those expensive MD's you pay in private hospitals

are the same as you see in government hospitals, which is their day job

 

 

This is not exactly true. Most of the expensive doctors in private hospitals do hold senior positions at  gvernment hospitals but the actual care will be delivered by interns and residents in training, under their supervision. The patient may never see, let along get to talk with, the senor doctor.

 

And the levels of supervision can sometimes be insufficient. In most hospitals it seems to work OK but we had a horrific experience in one govt hospital within my extended family as a result of insuficient supervision of the interns/residents. They botched delicate spinal surgery then covered it up for several days after,  telling the attending doctor all was well when in fact there had been a very serious complication that needed immediate emergency surgical correction..

[MadMuhammad]

5 hours ago, ebonykap said:

  I have recently been an in-patient at a private and government hospital.

About 2 years ago, extremely unwell, my Thai friends took me to Bangkok Christian Hospital. No waiting, onto a stretcher, tests and immediate admission with a lung infection. 6 days in hospital, total bill - 158,000 baht

3 weeks ago I had surgery to remove an aggressive skin tumour on my hand at Chulalonkorn Hospital. 3 hour operation to cut, clean and skin graft. 4 days in 2 person room, all up 25,000 baht.

Yes, there were some negatives at Chula, namely waiting for appointments and Thai language deficiency, but I know where I will be going in the future.

 

I just had 7 days in with influenza type b, pneumonia and a throat infection. 191850฿.

I nearly fainted!

[Pdavies99]

15 hours ago, KittenKong said:

I think it's the same here as in the UK. If you go in with some emergency problem they will look at you fairly quickly, but if you just want to have an appointment to see a specialist about something, or for some operation that is not urgent, you can wait a long time. Things like just registering for treatment can be an all-day job here in some government hospitals, yet in a private hospital it only takes seconds.

So anyone who can afford to pay to go private is probably better off doing so, just as it is better to fly business class if you can afford it.

Quite correct...the NHS have to prioritise, if they consider you need to be treated now, then that's always (In my experience) what happens.

 

If not you may have to wait a while, but if your situtation changes then you get treated quicker.   Nothing wrong in that at all.

 

[hereforgood]

What country are you from?

United States

Sent from my LG-H990 using Tapatalk

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, Benroon said:

Be careful cutting costs by turning down the hospital meds and heading for your local pharmacy. I had an eye infection a few years back in Phuket, went to the pharmacy, gave me several items all with the word 'eye' on it !

 

Few days later my eye was now a mess, couldn't see out of it at all, and clearly getting worse, went into the hospital (Bangkok Hospital Phuket) on a Saturday, they called a specialist in from home as they didn't like the look of it, who spent a good few hours with me. I told her what medication I had from the pharmacy, she singled one out and said in a few days more that one would have blinded me and angrily threw it in the bin !! Put me on a strong dosage of anti biotics, new meds and it cleared up - she told me to avoid local pharmacies (and I've always been a bit suspicious there seems to be one every 50 metres)

 

Oh and bill for the hospital treatment, her time and the meds was just 4000b (private)

 

 

 

 

The idea is not to have a pharmacist prescribe for you in place of seeing a doctor but to see the doctor and then, instead of buying the medication from the hospital at 2-5 times the pharmacy price, go and buy the same thing at a pharmacy.  Two entirely different things.

 

Obviously, you have to check and make sure what you receive is the (generically at least) same medication that the doctor at the hospital prescribed.

[lopburi3]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The idea is not to have a pharmacist prescribe for you in place of seeing a doctor but to see the doctor and then, instead of buying the medication from the hospital at 2-5 times the pharmacy price, go and buy the same thing at a pharmacy.  Two entirely different things.

Indeed but also be aware of the pharmacy used - are they air conditioned and is it likely to be used after hours?  Do they have good turnover?  Are they medical or cosmetic centric?  This does not mean the big pharmacy is better - a small facility that orders your medications fresh may actually be a better choice.  But be aware oversight may not be that tight so a bit more up to customer to observe conditions.  For eye medications this may be even more important as consistent lower temperature storage is required for some of them.  

[malagateddy]

Re myself..I have nothing but PRAISE for my local district hospital in Nongbuodaeng.
The very few occasions I have needed to go there..the treatment/staff/cleanliness etc was 5 star stuff.
Also..although the big hospital in Chaiyaphum is always very busy..I think that it's also 5 star stuff.
When I think back to the NHS in Glasgow..my GP's surgery was excellent..but sadly the hospitals..oh oh...very lengthy waiting time to see a Consultant..over-worked staff..far to many non medical jobsworths etc.
I SALUTE THE THAI NHS !!!

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[elgenon]

What government hospital is closest to lower Sukumvit?

 

What government hospital is closest to Chiang Mai's old city.

 

What government hospital is closest to Second Road and Soi 13 in Pattaya?

 

It sounds like i should have that info handy.

[lopburi3]

Just a caution that there can be medically significant waits for service at government hospitals if subject to queues and proper insurance and/or ability to use private facilities can be critical.

 

In my own experience was strongly advised to use a government facility due operating team experience; for what was tested as low grade bladder cancer.  This involved a 10 week wait and day prior to operation check showed cancer much more advanced than expected and when on OR table was advised canceled due no ICU available and that next queue would be about 3-4 months in future.  Went private and had operation within week and cancer tested high grade but appeared to be removed without spread - 2 years later had single growth in urethra which appears to have been same source so those 10 weeks were likely not a good choice on my part.  Have had Thai family members treated for cancer and government doctors have strongly advised them to obtain private treatment due to government queue delay so do not believe it is that uncommon.  

 

At any rate just want to caution anyone having, or thinking of having insurance that it is a very valuable commodity as we age and probably not worth not having - even in government facilities there can be higher charges if some treatments are required and always best to have options.  

[The Fugitive]

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Yes, the conditions on the wards of most government hospitals are very bad. Quality of the medical care is good, but staying in these places is a serious nightmare. Especially -- but not only - in the hotter months.

 

I can't even bear visiting someone in one for more than an hour or two.

 

Fortunately most government hospitals have private and semi-private rooms available at extra cost and they are very much worth it. Depending on the room, in the regional hospital near me they range form 1000 (4 bed room) to 1800 (private room). If covered by the 30 baht scheme they will subtract from the room cost the cost of a ward bed which is 400 where I am. So the patient pays only the difference. For a farang of course you pay the full. But oh is it worth it.

 

Problem may arise if you do nto have someone to stay with you or if you are considered unstable, in those cases they might insist on your being in a ward.

 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this Sheryl! Your in-depth knowledge is most helpful. 

[The Fugitive]

14 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Useful information, thanks. The local private hospital admitted a Brit a couple of months ago who had had a stroke. He died a month later. The bill was 1 million baht, and the hospital wouldn't release the body from their refrigerator until it was paid.

I'll tell my GF if that situation arises, get me admitted to a government hospital, private room. Because she's the one who stands to lose.

Good thinking. I've told my Thai wife. It sounds as though nothing could be done and the guy was maintained until he died of natural causes. Same would apparently apply in both Government and private hospitals. A/E will save your life and stabilise you, placing you on a life support machine if necessary, initially free of charge. Know of a guy who came off his moto, no crash helmet, no insurance, hospital plan or savings. Government hospital put him on life support. To go forward he needed brain surgery, cost about 1.5 million baht. Instead, he was moved onto a non air-conditioned ward with 40 other dying patients and maintained until he expired.

Edited March 22, 2019 by The Fugitive

[direction BANGKOK]

Anyone care to chime in on a few of the top, or favorite, govt hospitals in Bangkok?

 

Thanks for the thread, very useful. I have always gone private and noticed many of the same negative aspects such as treadmill style care, and expensive meds (was never sure about that). I have, unfortunately, bought meds at the hospital in the past. 

[malagateddy]

Evrryone djould make a LIVING WILL!!

Good thinking. I've told my Thai wife. It sounds as though nothing could be done and the guy was maintained until he died of natural causes. Same would apparently apply in both Government and private hospitals. A/E will save your life and stabilise you, placing you on a life support machine if necessary, initially free of charge. Know of a guy who came off his moto, no crash helmet, no insurance, hospital plan or savings. Government hospital put him on life support. To go forward he needed brain surgery, cost about 1.5 million baht. Instead, he was moved onto a non air-conditioned ward with 40 other dying patients and maintained until he expired.

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[lifemagic]

I sent an email to siriraj about three weeks ago asking for a consultant recommended on this forum. Just got this back today:

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

At Siriraj, we have many doctors who specified in many fields.

 

Please be informed that at Siriraj, we cannot do a consultation and estimate the cost via email.

 

To pay a medical visit or receive a treatment at Siriraj Hospital, please follow the instruction as below;

 

Please ask your Thai friends or you need to find someone who can speak Thai to make an appointment.

  

 

But since that time, I actually went to Siriraj, for the second time, to ask the costs, tried to get to the international desk and then tried to get to the specialist centre on the second floor, also recommended. Couldn't get past the front desk, who led me around, asking different desks in different places advice, continually referring to me farang, farang etc, eventually passed over to another angry woman who explained, for an estimate I'd have to go to different departments and ask, so best to pay for a consultation and then I would be told, but she can't say how much the consultation will cost.

 

Since then I've come onto Malaysia. I've visited UM government clinic. Everything in English, shown full prices straight up in a list, the same as the Malacca state hospital. I have to pay double what locals pay but still in the ballpark. Shown respect by every single person whom I spoke to. Ten times less chaotic. Consultation is 100 ringet for foreigner, but that's a maximum per visit, regardless of how many consultants you see on that day.

 

I'm trying to set up a web site at the minute (finding it a bit hard). If I manage to get it going I'm going to write up a full guide for nomads to access the Malaysian system because, for more complex things, it does seem better to me. Not only that but the shopping for medical supplies, i.e. compression was easier, Lazada delivered it to my guesthouse.

[uhuh]

6 hours ago, elgenon said:

What government hospital is closest to lower Sukumvit?

 

What government hospital is closest to Chiang Mai's old city.

 

What government hospital is closest to Second Road and Soi 13 in Pattaya?

 

It sounds like i should have that info handy.

Sukh:

Police hospital 

Chulalongkorn hospital is better and not much further

 

CM

Suan Dawk (Chiang Mai University hospital)

 

Pattaya

Pattaya City Hospital,  Soi Bua Khao, next to Sutus Court

(Not always good.)

[Pdavies99]

17 hours ago, Benroon said:

I had a fractured nose and two fractured cheekbones in the UK (smashed in the face by a cricket ball) - had to wait SEVEN hours - there's something very wrong with that !! But they passed their waiting test by seeing me after 20 minutes and saying "we think you have sustained a head injury" (the massive blood loss from my face was probably the clue) before then telling me to go back to the waiting area!

 

The NHS is a basketcase but too many people view it through rose tinted specs so politicians are scared to death to touch it!

 

I wouldn't be rushing home from here to be treated in the UK NHS

As I said if your injuries are life threatening you would be seen pretty quick, unfortunately you were not dying so you had to wait for 7 hours for free NHS treatment, or go to a private hospital and pay.  The NHS is not a basketcase as you mght find out if you had a life threatening illnress!

[Tomahawk21]

So all you members thinking about what hospital to use, nothing wrong with governments hospitals.

 

i tried government hospital to have my teeth cleaned went in 8am saw how many people were waiting i would of been in there for 4 or 5 hours, they told cant make appointment just turn up and wait. i went private.

[scorecard]

On 3/21/2019 at 5:35 PM, thailand49 said:

Good to hear these stories gives one hope but it would help if you provided the area you got treated and the hospital because in general not all private or public are the same right?????

Over 30+ years I've heard of and experienced many mistake in the so called 5 star hospitals. 

Two examples:

 

- Had a large lump develop in the palm of my hand, went to a 5 star (company coverage), doctor arranged for surgery the next day at a specific marked spot on my hand. Admitted, come out of the op and realize the doctor operated in the wrong spot where there was no swelling. No apology, lots of illogical excuses, and the surgeon refused to speak with me. My company complained to the insurance provider, they refused to pay the hospital. Hospital approached me privately to pay, insurance company requested that I not pay. End of story. 

 

- Son had full medical insurance for his young 2 yr old daughter, she clearly wasn't well son took her to a so called 5 star with Mcd on the premises. Son was concerned that she wasn't improving, he went to the nurse station and they berated him for disturbing their break.

 

Son then discovered the medical chart hanging on the end of daughters bed was for a different child with a totally different ailment.  Dr. came by a few minutes later and son mentioned the chart. The dr. was horrified and insisted the sister in charge come immediately. She did, she wasn't the least bit concerned. Dr. demanded all the nurse staff on duty come to the room and he gave them quite some roasting. They chatted among themselves not interested.

 

After the dr. left head sister attacked my son saying he was a trouble maker.

 

Son and his wife wrapped up the little one quickly and headed straight for another hospital. First hospital called son demanding he come back the same day and pay the bill. Son said I'll SMS the name of my lawyer you can send the bill to him. Nothing ever happened. 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2019 by scorecard

[Pravda]

23 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

Government hospitals, even in small towns, still have dental departments and fillings (200 Baht) and even crowns (1500 Baht) are a good price. The bigger hospitals will do root canals (up to 2000 Baht).

 

Serious question.

 

Will you be screaming in pain?

[scorecard]

Ohh yes, it's guaranteed, it's compulsory.

[elgenon]

15 hours ago, scorecard said:

Over 30+ years I've heard of and experienced many mistake in the so called 5 star hospitals. 

Two examples:

 

- Had a large lump develop in the palm of my hand, went to a 5 star (company coverage), doctor arranged for surgery the next day at a specific marked spot on my hand. Admitted, come out of the op and realize the doctor operated in the wrong spot where there was no swelling. No apology, lots of illogical excuses, and the surgeon refused to speak with me. My company complained to the insurance provider, they refused to pay the hospital. Hospital approached me privately to pay, insurance company requested that I not pay. End of story. 

 

- Son had full medical insurance for his young 2 yr old daughter, she clearly wasn't well son took her to a so called 5 star with Mcd on the premises. Son was concerned that she wasn't improving, he went to the nurse station and they berated him for disturbing their break.

 

Son then discovered the medical chart hanging on the end of daughters bed was for a different child with a totally different ailment.  Dr. came by a few minutes later and son mentioned the chart. The dr. was horrified and insisted the sister in charge come immediately. She did, she wasn't the least bit concerned. Dr. demanded all the nurse staff on duty come to the room and he gave them quite some roasting. They chatted among themselves not interested.

 

After the dr. left head sister attacked my son saying he was a trouble maker.

 

Son and his wife wrapped up the little one quickly and headed straight for another hospital. First hospital called son demanding he come back the same day and pay the bill. Son said I'll SMS the name of my lawyer you can send the bill to him. Nothing ever happened. 

 

 

This was in Thailand?

[elgenon]

14 hours ago, Pravda said:

 

Serious question.

 

Will you be screaming in pain?

I had impacted wisdom teeth. Went to UCLA because cheaper. I don't know if it was because it was a teaching hospital but they wanted to pull the two teeth without numbing the area. I said bye bye.

[lopburi3]

30 minutes ago, elgenon said:

I had impacted wisdom teeth. Went to UCLA because cheaper. I don't know if it was because it was a teaching hospital but they wanted to pull the two teeth without numbing the area. I said bye bye.

Was it infected?  Is so that needs to be treated first to allow numbing to take place - otherwise injections are just held in the infection area and do not numb (been there).  

[Happystance]

I went to a government hospital in CM, was told tickets were given out for appointments at 8am.

So I arrived at 7:30 am and got in a long line. Turns out I was in the wrong line because all announcements we're in Thai and all signage was in Thai and the guard sent me to the wrong line.

 

Got in the right line, waited an hour and got an appointment for 2 hours later. Went to appointment room filled with at least a hundred people. Waited an hour to eventually be told "no doctor for 3 hours."

 

Came back later, waited 2 more hours, eventually was told doctor still didn't show up. Kept waiting.

Thai patients coming and going, I am the only falang, kept waiting.

 

3pm I am told to get in another line with a handful of unhappy Thais. Doctor shows up. 4:30 pm I am finally called in.

 

Doctor speaks little English and doesn't understand 80% of what I say. Eventually he orders a blood panel- that can't be done today, you understand, it's too late and that department is closed.

 

I'm given another appointment for the next day, and told to go pay.

 

Go to pay and get number 212. They are now serving number 61.

Took another hour to pay.

 

With transit time, a 10 hour day. To get a blood test ordered. 

But it only cost 50 baht.

 

Next day, 1/2 hour wait for blood test and 1/2 hour to pay bill. Had to schedule another doctor appointment for a week later to get results. 

800 baht for the test and 50 baht for the next appointment for results, which were communicated in poor English and took 1 1/2 hours to get.

 

Next time I went to the private hospital. Made an appointment over the phone the day prior. Showed up early but had to wait 20 minutes later. Blood test ordered and done in 15 more minutes. Results in 2 hours.

Paid bill in another 10 minutes. Perfect English spoken by everyone I encountered. Whole process took 2 1/2 hours.

2200 baht.

 

You decide what your time is worth.

[gmac]

16 hours ago, Tomahawk21 said:

So all you members thinking about what hospital to use, nothing wrong with governments hospitals.

 

i tried government hospital to have my teeth cleaned went in 8am saw how many people were waiting i would of been in there for 4 or 5 hours, they told cant make appointment just turn up and wait. i went private.

I frequently used Sirikit hospital in Sattahip for an eye problem.  

 

I had regular appointments which were always shown as 8-9am, but despite the appointment time it was still first come first served and I would get seen around 1-2pm as all the local Thais seem to arrive well before opening time.  I ended up going in at 11.30-12.00 for the same 8-9.00 appointments and the wait wasn't so bad. One of the nurses even got to the point where she was amending my appointment sheet by hand adding 'before 12' as she knew how bad the system was. 

 

It's not just a lack of doctors that causes the problem it seems to be a refusal by those in charge to give any sort of consideration to their patients.  All they need to do is stagger the appointment times but that would require a bit of thought I suppose. 

[neeray]

On ‎3‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 5:22 AM, Paul Laycock1 said:

POTY maybe it’s a mental check up you need. Had to wait 2 hours and find cash the staggering amount of 350 Baht. Sit on your poty, problem solved.

I think Colin was talking "tongue in cheek", a little humour, left handed compliment.

[colinneil]

8 minutes ago, Happystance said:

I went to a government hospital in CM, was told tickets were given out for appointments at 8am.

So I arrived at 7:30 am and got in a long line. Turns out I was in the wrong line because all announcements we're in Thai and all signage was in Thai and the guard sent me to the wrong line.

 

Got in the right line, waited an hour and got an appointment for 2 hours later. Went to appointment room filled with at least a hundred people. Waited an hour to eventually be told "no doctor for 3 hours."

 

Came back later, waited 2 more hours, eventually was told doctor still didn't show up. Kept waiting.

Thai patients coming and going, I am the only falang, kept waiting.

 

3pm I am told to get in another line with a handful of unhappy Thais. Doctor shows up. 4:30 pm I am finally called in.

 

Doctor speaks little English and doesn't understand 80% of what I say. Eventually he orders a blood panel- that can't be done today, you understand, it's too late and that department is closed.

 

I'm given another appointment for the next day, and told to go pay.

 

Go to pay and get number 212. They are now serving number 61.

Took another hour to pay.

 

With transit time, a 10 hour day. To get a blood test ordered. 

But it only cost 50 baht.

 

Next day, 1/2 hour wait for blood test and 1/2 hour to pay bill. Had to schedule another doctor appointment for a week later to get results. 

800 baht for the test and 50 baht for the next appointment for results, which were communicated in poor English and took 1 1/2 hours to get.

 

Next time I went to the private hospital. Made an appointment over the phone the day prior. Showed up early but had to wait 20 minutes later. Blood test ordered and done in 15 more minutes. Results in 2 hours.

Paid bill in another 10 minutes. Perfect English spoken by everyone I encountered. Whole process took 2 1/2 hours.

2200 baht.

 

You decide what your time is worth.

Why post nonsense about doctor doesnt understand 80%, you know, i know that is absolute BS.

Every doctor in Thailand can speak/ understand English, they have to pass English before they can become a doctor.

All medical terms etc are in English, so they have to understand English.

Before you or any other starts telling me i am wrong, the surgeon at the government hospital who put me back together told me that.

[lopburi3]

11 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Every doctor in Thailand can speak/ understand English, they have to pass English before they can become a doctor.

Sorry but ability to understand English and ask the right questions is not that good for many doctors here in my experience, and that includes both government and private hospitals settings.  Understand it is made more complex by the number of "English" versions they have to understand - but sulities should be understood better than I have observed from some diagnostic doctors.  This is compounded by some who appear to have tunnel vision for tests rather than listen to patients.