Last month in the Consular team #2

[British Consular Team]

It was another busy month for the Consular team in July. The number of British people traveling to Thailand increased from 52,296 to 64,457.

We issued 32 Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) and provided 148 documentary services, including 99 affirmations of marriage. Additionally, we dealt with 103 emergency cases - 24% increase. This included 11 arrests, 26 welfare cases (including child welfare), 12 hospitalisations mainly caused by stroke and road traffic accidents, 2 victims of crime, 5 missing person cases, and 47 deaths, where one of these was, sadly, a pedestrian who was hit while walking, and two deaths were due to road traffic accidents, others were natural deaths.

In addition to office operations, the team conducted outreach in Pattaya and Phuket.

In Pattaya, we met with care homes, the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Tourist Police, and hospitals. We discussed consular issues with local authorities, focusing on insurance, tourist safety, elderly welfare, and cooperation on assistance to British people. We were then joined by the Ambassador halfway through the visit, and we all met with the Governor to discuss economic and cooperation on supporting British nationals in the area. We also celebrated the well-deserved retirement of Pattaya Honorary Consul Bert Elson.

In Phuket, representatives from the Consular team attended a quarterly meeting with various local authorities, including the Vice Governor, Immigration, police, and representatives from other embassies and honorary consuls. We visited Vachira hospital, which faces challenges with unpaid bills from expats but diligently continues to support the community. Hence, the work we are doing to encourage all tourists and residents to have up-to-date insurance. We also visited the hospital's Command Centre, responsible for monitoring emergencies, weather conditions, and vital tourist information.

Do not forget to sign up for Thailand Travel Advice for the latest updates: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand

If you have any inquiries or emergencies, you can call for 24/7 support at +66 (0)2 305 8333 and select the option for consular assistance.

[Eff1n2ret]

2 hours ago, British Consular Team said:

focusing on insurance,

Thank you for the update.

 

On the matter of insurance, can you give any feedback on the current thinking of those with whom you discussed this? My feedback to you is that having lived here in retirement for nearly 14 years and approaching my 79th birthday, I have funded all my medical costs while I have been here and have a substantial fund to do so in my remaining years. There's no way I could get insurance, and I guess I'm not alone. I just ask you to bear us in mind in any such discussions, and resist proposals to impose an insurance requirement on those of us who have been paying our bills and intend to do so in future.

[British Consular Team]

22 hours ago, Eff1n2ret said:

Thank you for the update.

 

On the matter of insurance, can you give any feedback on the current thinking of those with whom you discussed this? My feedback to you is that having lived here in retirement for nearly 14 years and approaching my 79th birthday, I have funded all my medical costs while I have been here and have a substantial fund to do so in my remaining years. There's no way I could get insurance, and I guess I'm not alone. I just ask you to bear us in mind in any such discussions, and resist proposals to impose an insurance requirement on those of us who have been paying our bills and intend to do so in future.

Hello @Eff1n2ret. Many thanks for your comment. 

Our focus currently is mainly on British Tourists who visit Thailand for a holiday. We encourage these tourists, through social media, our Travel Advice  and by working with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in London to take out insurance before they travel to Thailand. We are seeing an increase in visiting British Nationals who are hospitalised due to accidents (often after hiring motorbikes). Hospital bills can be high and getting the British National back to the UK costs are even higher. Often British Nationals leave Thai hospitals without paying their bills – we would like to see a change in this.

 

Insurance for residents is a different subject. We would encourage all of those who live in Thailand to either have the funds to pay their medical bills (as seems to be the case with you) and/or have insurance. We realise that for some British Nationals, especially those who do not have sufficient funds, getting insurance can also be a problem. We plan to  work on this issue in the future with potential companies who might be able to assist those nationals getting some form of insurance.  

[Eff1n2ret]

1 hour ago, British Consular Team said:

Often British Nationals leave Thai hospitals without paying their bills – we would like to see a change in this.

Thanks very much. I heartily agree with that comment.