Online appeal launched to fly home elderly British man taken seriously ill in Korat

[galenjones]

As a member of the German Red Cross
you also have travel repatriation insurance for emergencies worldwide.
I pay 23 euros / year.
Unfortunately, it's too late for Gary now.
But everyone who is interested should get the relevant information from the Red Cross in their country.

Edited June 19, 2021 by galenjones

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

This situation must is shameful. The UK embassy should be doing far more than they are ( their usual cup of tea with 4 sugars is not enough). The insurance company should be doing more and the rest of us should also be doing more to help.

Embassies are not there to provide help for those that should have provided for themselves and didn't.

Medical insurance is an obvious requirement of travel in foreign climes, and there is IMO no excuse for not having it if it is needed.

 

I fail to see why it is the responsibility of those unknown to the OP. There are billions of people on the planet that need help, but none of us can change that with what disposable income we might have available.

I have never assumed that strangers would come to my financial aid in a crisis, and so far I have not been proven wrong, indeed, some of my so called friends have even stolen from me. That'll teach me for being too trusting.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

Furthermore, I have also contacted people I know at the UK Home Office to get involved. For it is not who you are, but rather who you know. 

So funny.  Let us know the Home Office's response.

 

Why would the Home Office get involved in the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's responsibilities and set a precedent when, sad as it is, this is just one more appeal for money for foreigners in trouble abroad.

[4MyEgo]

6 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

.......and that's the result of "self-insuring".

 

Self insuring has to be started earlier in life, I mean I have more than enough to cover me in the even of hospitalisation, but I don't want to use my own funds because once that goes down, I will find it very hard to replace, e.g. 2-3 million baht.

 

You can insure to a certain age, say for example up to the 55-59 age bracket, for me it was comfortable at around 60k baht per annum for emergency and elective treatment, then as soon as I hit 60 they tweak the policy from 60-64 age bracket to 110k baht, that's a hike of 50k baht, still affordable for me, however without insurance one is left wide and open.

 

So next year when it's due again I will be looking for me and the family (separate insurers) to get an insurer who has an excess/waiver of say 40%-50% and see what the policy fees per annum are like, as the ones we have don't have any excess/waivers, and at the moment 175k baht for me and the family is around 3 months survival money, so if I can't find something cheaper next year, I might bite the bullet and take my chances by putting 175k baht away per annum in a separate account and up it every time my age bracket climbs over, because I know one thing for sure, there only going to get more expensive as we age.

[iamariva1957]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

So funny.  Let us know the Home Office's response.

 

Why would the Home Office get involved in the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's responsibilities and set a precedent when, sad as it is, this is just one more appeal for money for foreigners in trouble abroad.

They run them!

[BusyB]

5 hours ago, Denim said:

 

I think the 80,000 baht figure is misleading. This would be for a private jet with nursing staff all the way !!

 

He is shown sitting on a bed.  Could he also sit on a chair or a car seat ?

Could a couple of friends  not take care of the relevant paperwork ( covid check ) then drive him to the airport, get him in a wheelchair and push him to check in on a business class seat ( more room ). Airlines have staff that regularly take non walking passengers to the aircraft and get them seated ( I used to do this when working for BA )

 

I agree the above suggestion is only theoretical but surely the figure ( the very round figure ) represents flying home with the best of everything not just getting the poor man home. As soon as the flight landed in the UK he would be met by airline staff and taken through immigration ( done this hundreds of times for wheelchair bound passengers ) so a cheaper option must surely be possible.

 

When I worked for BA I often had to take such passengers right to the taxi rank and help them into a taxi !!

 

Where there is a will there is a way.

 

I can't see any airline in the world taking that guy in that state, even with accompanying doctor and nurse. And there's not a (reputable) doctor in the world would sign a 'fit to fly' certificate for him.

He'd need an air ambulance, and that is obviously expensive.

 

[Excel]

Just now, BusyB said:

 

I can't see any airline in the world taking that guy in that state, even with accompanying doctor and nurse. And there's not a (reputable) doctor in the world would sign a 'fit to fly' certificate for him.

He'd need an air ambulance, and that is obviously expensive.

 

see my earlier post

[iamariva1957]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Embassies are not there to provide help for those that should have provided for themselves and didn't.

Medical insurance is an obvious requirement of travel in foreign climes, and there is IMO no excuse for not having it if it is needed.

 

I fail to see why it is the responsibility of those unknown to the OP. There are billions of people on the planet that need help, but none of us can change that with what disposable income we might have available.

I have never assumed that strangers would come to my financial aid in a crisis, and so far I have not been proven wrong, indeed, some of my so called friends have even stolen from me. That'll teach me for being too trusting.

Embassies ARE there for just that! 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

13 minutes ago, Excel said:

Exactly what is wrong with a wife or relative  staying with you in hospital because as a minimum it provides for emotional support. 

Nothing at all, but you must have missed the point I made that the patient must provide their own carer to help them wash and use the loo as the nurses won't.

When I went with my wife to see her mother in a government hospital, families were camped outside to take turns caring for their relative.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, iamariva1957 said:

Embassies ARE there for just that! 

 

Strange then that they are reluctant to provide assistance.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

They run them!

What?   Who runs whom?

[BusyB]

Just now, Excel said:

see my earlier post

 

Don't know what you said, but I can't trawl through every post in a thread before posting myself.  I'd never get away from the screen ... so I skim and leave a thought or two. Sometimes, like now a conversation develops.

Have a nice day.

[BritManToo]

56 minutes ago, robblok said:

So the people who want to be insured should set the premium instead of the market.. wow such unrealistic plans.

Maybe they should just limit the profits of the hospitals.

I once had some stitches in a Thai government hospital, 250bht for stitches, cleaning and dressing, and pills to take away.

The hospital seemed very happy to have a paying customer.

My pal with similar injuries paid 4,500bht in CM Ram private hospital.

[Excel]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Maybe they should just limit the profits of the hospitals.

I once had some stitches in a Thai government hospital, 250bht for stitches, cleaning and dressing, and pills to take away.

The hospital seemed very happy to have a paying customer.

My pal with similar injuries paid 4,500bht in CM Ram private hospital.

my local hospital on two occasions now have waived fees on antibiotics given to me. I can not be comfortable with that so always make sure when I see them outside of their work to pay for a meal or drinks for them. They deserve it.

[Inala]

Is 73 really still classified as elderly??

 

I'm 62 and the fittest I've ever been in my life, but does this mean regardless I'm going to be an elderly old man in just 11 years? 

[Tony125]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I doubt any shipping company would accept him.

 

The high cost for the flight is the medical requirements.

 

I thought any Brit was able to return to the UK at the start of the pandemic.

They mentioned they thought it safer for him to remain here as few cases and deaths from Covid initially in Thailand and many cases in GB.

[Scouse123]

7 minutes ago, Excel said:

However the British taxpayer did pay for foreigners working at both the British Council ( a non governmental organisation)  and the Embassy to receive 2 doses of vaccine whereas it was denied to British nationals who have paid taxes most of their lives. How do you equate that to your anti socialist views ?

 

I maintain exactly what I said before, the British Embassy is not there for people ' down on their luck ' or those that traveled ' uninsured ' or allowed their insurance to "lapse" for whatever reason. It is a travellers responsibility to make sure all their documents are up to date and in order, not the British Government.

 

Where the hell would it end? There is way too much of expecting the state to assume responsibility for a persons poor life choices.

 

I think its a damn good idea that the British government arrange to vaccinate staff at the British Embassy as that is the main outpost in Bangkok for all of us and for British trade, industry, points of contact, and all the rest of the services provided by the Embassy.

 

The British Embassy is not there as an extension of the NHS for Brits abroad.

 

I paid and pay taxes too, and plenty of them and I am insured. Expecting people to take responsibility for their lives isn't Anti socialist, is called being a Realist.

 

By the way, When I see dinghies and rowing boats making their way across the water to Cuba from the USA, maybe I might think about becoming a Socialist!

[Salerno]

9 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

Embassies ARE there for just that! 

 

Rather a naive belief IMO.

[Excel]

Just now, Scouse123 said:

 

I maintain exactly what I said before, the British Embassy is not there for people ' down on their luck ' or those that traveled ' uninsured ' or allowed their insurance to "lapse" for whatever reason. It is a travellers responsibility to make sure all their documents are up to date and in order, not the British Government.

 

Where the hell would it end? There is way too much of expecting the state to assume responsibility for a persons poor life choices.

 

I think its a damn good idea that the British government arrange to vaccinate staff at the British Embassy as that is the main outpost in Bangkok for all of us and for British trade, industry, points of contact, and all the rest of the services provided by the Embassy.

 

The British Embassy is not there as an extension of the NHS for Brits abroad.

 

I paid and pay taxes too, and plenty of them and I am insured. Expecting people to take responsibility for their lives isn't Anti socialist, is called being a Realist.

 

By the way, When I see dinghies and rowing boats making their way across the water to Cuba from the USA, maybe I might think about becoming a Socialist!

Actually according the British Consul newsletter they appear to be giving more support to repatriating bodies of British Nationals who have died. How much more can you be down on your luck then dead but that seems to be their priority !

[Gandtee]

So what happens if the funds are not forthcoming? 

[peter48]

This case is deeply sad for the gent and poses the serious issue of insurance cover for others going to Thailand.  It strikes me for short to medium stayers say a month to 2 or 3 months you would go home before your insurance expired. That you would have insurance cover that was relevant to your age. In most very serious cases I guess you would get repatriation. But it raises issues about what happens when your incapacitated and your  insurance period ends. Another question for the insurance company prior to departure. 

For long term stayers like ex-pats is there many Thai based options for insurance cover? 

[smedly]

people who have strokes recover to a point - it certainly would not bar them from flights once they are at a stable point, I know a few people who have had a stroke and they travel by plane 

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Excel said:

So lets examine what you just said  should we. He suddenly had a stroke that has left him partially paralysed and requiring feeding. So you think what  as you said "As soon as his underlying health issues appeared" ?  Whilst having this stroke he should have decided to return home or after the stroke unable to communicate he should return home ? Goodness  me what a statement.

No, I did not say that. I did not mention the stroke that he had. I said "underlying health issues". The ones he had prior to having a stroke. The ones mentioned in the article. Did you read the article?

[Excel]

3 minutes ago, peter48 said:

This case is deeply sad for the gent and poses the serious issue of insurance cover for others going to Thailand.  It strikes me for short to medium stayers say a month to 2 or 3 months you would go home before your insurance expired. That you would have insurance cover that was relevant to your age. In most very serious cases I guess you would get repatriation. But it raises issues about what happens when your incapacitated and your  insurance period ends. Another question for the insurance company prior to departure. 

For long term stayers like ex-pats is there many Thai based options for insurance cover? 

hardly any once over 70 for a price that is affordable for a pensioner

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Tahoe said:

It is a pity that foreigners cannot get free medical treatment at Gov't hospitals (like the Thais) even if they are here legally. Even places like the U.S., that don't even have a national health care plan, treat everyone if they don't have the money to pay for it.

Are you sure about that? I know Americans that tell me they can't get free health care in US. Everyone has insurance.

[Mywayboy]

5 hours ago, puchooay said:

The full article in the Gloucester News does not say how long he has been in Thailand. It does, however, say that he has been stuck in Thailand for 18 months unable to return. Well, that is rubbish. Many people have returned to UK in the past 18 months.

 

There is also no mention of how long his original travel policy was for. However, which ever way you look at it, as soon as his insurance lapsed and he could not renew he became a self insurer.

 

Curious, he has been here for at least 18 months and yet has no issues with visa status. There must be some money around somewhere.

IF he has assets in UK why the British Embassy cannot arrange his transfer home & recoup the money from the asset he has in the UK??

[Excel]

4 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

No, I did not say that. I did not mention the stroke that he had. I said "underlying health issues". The ones he had prior to having a stroke. The ones mentioned in the article. Did you read the article?

yes I did but clearly you did not. So what were those underlying health issues ? Other than his age 

[thaibeachlovers]

13 minutes ago, Inala said:

Is 73 really still classified as elderly??

 

I'm 62 and the fittest I've ever been in my life, but does this mean regardless I'm going to be an elderly old man in just 11 years? 

If one thinks they'll still be as good at 73 as at 62 I have a bridge for sale. I didn't get really bad till I hit 70 and it's all downhill since.

People say I look well, but my body disagrees.

[Pravda]

17 minutes ago, Inala said:

Is 73 really still classified as elderly??

 

I'm 62 and the fittest I've ever been in my life, but does this mean regardless I'm going to be an elderly old man in just 11 years? 

 

Another hunsum man in Thailand. 

[youreavinalaff]

2 minutes ago, Excel said:

yes I did but clearly you did not. So what were those underlying health issues ? Other than his age 

The ones in the article. Here. Can you see it?

 

"Speaking to Gloucestershire Live, daughter Vanessa said: "Dad did have insurance initially but it lapsed and when he tried to get it re-issued they wouldn’t insure him because of his age and his medical conditions (co-morbidities)”".