Surgery at a government hospital

[gamini]

I elected to have artery surgery on my legs at Rama government hospital because of the ridiculous quotations given me by private hospitals. And due to my old age I have no insurance.The hospital was crowded and understaffed. Long queues for every test and doctors appointments.  A shortage of beds and you have to wait until one becomes available. 

 

Private rooms were never available and apparently reserved for Thai VIPs. But in spite of everything the hospital seem to cope, the facilities were excellent the doctors were caring. They didn't do any unnecessary tests but what appalled me was that the private hospitals wanted to operate on my both my legs and the government hospital said I only needed one leg doing. 

The cost of the operation was about 1/4 of private hospitals. The biggest concern is the lack of English spoken. Probably that's the reason I never saw a single foreigner in the hospital. The first time I went to make the appointment I took my Thai niece because my wife was not well enough to travel to Bangkok. 

My niece just couldn't understand all the questions the interns and nurses were asking. The next time I went with a very well educated Thai friend and I was able to cope. However when I was admitted no visitors were allowed in the hospital from eight p.m. to 8 a.m. so unless you can speak Thai you should not even think of being admitted to a government hospital. Fortunately I  could speak enough to get what I wanted during the night because none of the nurses spoke English. 

 

I was very impressed by the hospital and the services and I feel that they carried out much more thorougher investigation into my problem than a private hospital would have done. Long queues and waits and the lack of TV or Internet made a very boring four days. The cost of all the procedures medicines and take-home medicines was probably about 1/10 of that of a private hospital. 

  
As a matter of interest there is also a premium clinic at Rama hospital for paying patients but the crowds and waiting

was equally as bad as the main hospital. The staff were very friendly and I was very impressed how they operated.

I did however have a very strange pleasant experience. When I went to see the accounts department they asked me a lot of questions like did I have insurance was I married and how many children I had. They told me to produce my Thai marriage certificate and they would cut the bill by 50 percent. I've never heard anything like this before. So the cost of the operation was BT 75,000 including two days in patients charges and all the costs as opposed to 600,000 bt plus extras as private hospital

 

 

[CharlieH]

Thank you for taking time to write of your experience. I am sure other members will appreciate it.

[Halfaboy]

Recently one of the in laws was admitted to a government hospital and in fact I had the same experiences. Long time waiting, appointments on a certain time were unknown of, the family needs to take care of the patient etc, but in the end (as far as I can judge) I concluded that the doctors were doing an excellent job. 

[colinneil]

Gamini thanks for your post.

As i have posted many times doctors at government hospitals do a first class job.

All these members going on about government hospitals being no good should read your post and take notice.

Regarding private rooms, you are correct, if you want a private room you need contacts within the system.

I never had a problem with getting a private room, because the hospital i was in my wifes cousin is the nursing manager.

[BritManToo]

I always use government hospitals, don't mind the queues or waiting too much, my smartphone fulfils all my entertainment needs, and there's a 7-11 across the road. Never been bothered about the language problems, pointing and miming works where we don't have the common words or google translate doesn't work.

[Puchaiyank]

Thank you for sharing...the disparity in costs between government and private hospitals can only be classified as unnecessary and unwarranted greed...????

[faraday]

Thanks Gamini for posting this. Government hospitals in my experience, & my wife's, provide a good service, & we have never found them to be sub standard in any way with Medical things.

 

How's your leg, are you fully recovered?

 

[Kwasaki]

14 hours ago, gamini said:

I elected to have artery surgery on my legs at Rama government hospital because of the ridiculous quotations given me by private hospitals.

Glad you ok and found it good.

I've found our local gov hospital much better than private ones, been gov hospital twice general wards 300 aircon room 700 two years later a 1000 but worth it.

Just been kick off private insurers after 3 years and only 1 small claim because of my age although physical med check was good.

So will just do reg checks from time to time at gov hospital.

[gamini]

13 hours ago, faraday said:

Thanks Gamini for posting this. Government hospitals in my experience, & my wife's, provide a good service, & we have never found them to be sub standard in any way with Medical things.

 

How's your leg, are you fully recovered?

 

Thanks for your concern. They did an invasive angiogram. Unlike a private hospital there trying very hard to avoid a full-scale operation,  They are trying out some special medicine to increase the blood flow to my legs. I've got to go again in two weeks time when they will decide whether to have the full operation or not. I am very impressed by this attitude where as a private hospital would have operated already just to get the money

[lopburi3]

11 hours ago, gamini said:

I am very impressed by this attitude where as a private hospital would have operated already just to get the money

Actually it would be the doctor making the decision at any hospital - and there are good and bad at both - but agree the doctor has more financial motivation to perform operations at a private hospital.  On the flip side you could die waiting for an operation at some hospitals due long queue.

[uhuh]

Are you talking about Ramathibodi Hospital? 

That is one of the best hospitals in Thailand.