British citizen stranded in Thai hospital with a 400,000 baht plea to escape

[Badrabbit]

23 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

If he has leukemia he needs to see an oncologist to begin treatment.  He should have had his own health insurance. And I’m sure he won’t begin treatment in Thailand. 
Blood soaked sheets?  Hospital is like a war zone?  I find that very hard to believe. 

It's very very busy and nothing like a private Hospital, I've been and didn't enjoy the experience at all.

[helloagain]

10 hours ago, bob smith said:

Just walk out the hospital when you feel better and fly home to get proper treatment. Tell em to stick the 400K!
 

legally he doesn’t have to pay a penny. 
 

despite what anyone says, it is a hospitals duty to accept any and all emergency cases without question. Im not saying to walk out without paying is morally right, thats another story, but legally he doesn’t have to pay a cent. 

You don't live in Thailand then. They can and it has been known to demand your passport, it was reported only a couple of weeks ago handcuff to the bed. Yes no toilet paper government hospital that's normal, yes it's a third world country. He has friends and family so they can help. Blood cancer is not good, act very quickly. With world nomads insurance your covered for $5,000,000 my thai wife used it for usa trip. 

[Dukeleto]

Nothing in this story adds up or makes any sense. He hasn’t actually been diagnosed with anything and has had numerous blood transfusions, something I personally would not want to be having in Thailand and especially Phuket! Government hospitals are not supposed to be as expensive as private hospitals so it’s very unclear how a 10 day stay in a communal ward with a blood transfusion could end up costing 400K baht! The reporter has not bothered to investigate and find out why that is before presenting it here. Who’s exactly suspects Leukaemia? The friends? His bed is blood soaked…well he is having daily blood transfusions. Leukaemia can be very easily misdiagnosed both ways and there are innumerable types. This is so badly reported and in my opinion skewered to look worse than it probably is to elicit sympathy for the donations and provide click bait on here.

“The situation worsens as Penson anticipates another visit to A&E upon his return, piling on more financial woes.”

A&E in the UK and any subsequent treatment is free in the UK so how is that piling on more financial woes. He must of had a return ticket to the UK, just reschedule your flight and you are in all the care that you will need free of charge.

 

[Ralf001]

16 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Not having insurance is a self inflicted injury... it is selfish 

 

Love the idiot logic.

[Denim]

10 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

What's the address I will glady send him a roll.

 

Perhaps members here can organize a wipe around. 1 sheet each.

[BusyB]

11 hours ago, Barnet1900 said:

Government hospitals lack many things compared to private versions but the picture he's painting is utter bs.

 

I've been in Red Cross hospitals here and the medical staff were great. 

 

Complete tosser

 

Playing to the gallery to boost the fund.

[gravity101]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Here we go again. Self inflicted injury, and hopes other people will bail him out.

 

Ah, the arrogance of a foreigner that denigrates the locals for being "primitive", despite a bum gun being superior to wiping one's nether region with paper.

This is from the Mirror newspaper. The worst tabloid in the UK. I doubt its what he said or how he said it. The war-torn and the hose comment were probably said jokingly with British wit? And the newspaper turned it into a sensation piece. Its what they do.

[simon43]

The hospital should sue him for his derogatory comments...

[sikishrory]

10 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I don't think you can just walk out. I have been to dental centers and a hospital here and the cashier is right there before you get to the elevator and they are definately watching so you don't leave. I had a question at the cashier last time and staff immediately appeared behind me quicker then usual. I think they would call security if he just walked out.

The wards are locked at bkk phuket hospital. The lady at the desk can release the door or the staff have a little thing they can tap to a hidden receiver in the wall next to the door to release it. I had to get regular treatment in the wards and noticed them doing it.

I imagine vachira is similar

[jerrymahoney]

Help My Best friend Dean Penson medical costs

£10,766 raised of £10,750 goal • 582 donations

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-best-friend-dean-penson-medical-costs

[sikishrory]

I wonder if the conditions correlate with the fact he has no insurance.

The budget hospital option for people with no money to pay

[Smokey and the Bandit]

Imagine what the bill would have have been in a private hospital, where they gouge you??

[jayboy]

11 hours ago, bob smith said:

It is a hospitals duty to accept any and all emergency cases without question. Im not saying to walk out without paying is morally right, thats another story, but legally he doesn’t have to pay a cent.

 

Spot the lack of logic.

 

You could argue it's the hospital's duty to accept any emergency case but you cannot go on to argue he doesn't owe a cent.

[NRGF]

Apparently dying in an awful hospital and one of his biggest problems is no toilet paper? Its a joke surely? 

[kennw]

11 hours ago, bob smith said:

Just walk out the hospital when you feel better and fly home to get proper treatment. Tell em to stick the 400K!
 

legally he doesn’t have to pay a penny. 
 

despite what anyone says, it is a hospitals duty to accept any and all emergency cases without question. Im not saying to walk out without paying is morally right, thats another story, but legally he doesn’t have to pay a cent. 

Yes bloodsuck off the poor people of Thailand. 

[ChipButty]

15 minutes ago, gravity101 said:

This is from the Mirror newspaper. The worst tabloid in the UK. I doubt its what he said or how he said it. The war-torn and the hose comment were probably said jokingly with British wit? And the newspaper turned it into a sensation piece. Its what they do.

In the Daily Mail also 

[kwilco]

I'm a frequent critic of Thai healthcare, it's ethics and the treatment people get without insurance.

However this story just doesn't sound right - it seems to be to avoid the fact that the poor man wasn't insured, they are slagging off the hospital.

I've been in  government hospitals  in Thailand over 20 years  (as a patient and a worker) and I have never encountered anything like they describe.

 

Thailand has universal healthcare but foreigners need to be aware they must pay their way in Thailand.

Brits in particular, thanks to the NHS tend to leave home without considering they possible costs incurred for healthcare outside the UK.

As for pre-existing conditions, most insurance companies will still insure you - many pre-ext=sting don't affect your premium at all and some they may just not cover you for that specific ailment.

 

acute Leukemia is incredibly rare and one wonders if anywhere in the Thai healthcare system they are set up to deal with it effectively - it is important to include repatriation in your holiday insurance because fo things like this - the risk is very low - but the stakes are high.

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

22 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Love the idiot logic.

Because you don't understand something doesn't necessarily make it "idiotic"... just makes you look stupid.

[ChipButty]

They do have private rooms in that hospital, my friends daughter was in one, 

[Expat68]

I have stayed in Government Hospitals in Thailand, I find very hard to believe the conditions he is describing 

[BritManToo]

41 minutes ago, tonypattaya said:

So the costs go on to other individuals, or curtail the money available to treat others. Not right!. 

General ward in government hospital is under 500bht/night.

Blood tests 250bht

Blood is donated free.

 

Where has the 400kbht bill come from?

 

Last month I was in the 'broken bones' general ward of a government hospital for 3 days.

Cost was 6kbht (mainly for the 10-15 x-rays)

Had the usual needle port in my hand for drip, morphine, etc., it leaked leaving a pool of blood on the sheets, I guess I coul have told the blood stained sheets story, but it didn't seem important at the time.

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

But first time renders a tourist hopitalised with blood leaking from his body ?.

 

Where was it reported that he "had blood leaking from his body"?

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, quake said:

 

But the best bit was this.

 

 

Got to laugh at that comment !!!!!!!!!!!. 

 

 

No Paper... Lol.

Went to my local park for some exercise as usual.

There is a toilet block for the people at the park,

I needed to take a dump so went in for the first time to use the facilities.

Four traps each side, four for male four for females..

Open door to trap one, the floor level squat affair... pass.

Trap two, same... pass.

Trap three, door locked out of order.

Trap four, euro style toilet [non-flush], okay, sit down do the business, look around, no paper, just a tank full of water and a bowl.

Hands now wet, ar$e dripping with water... nothing to dry anything on !!!!!

 

Thailand 2023...

[ChipButty]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

General ward in government hospital is under 500bht/night.

Blood tests 250bht

Blood is donated free.

 

Where has the 400kbht bill come from?

This is Phuket, 

[kwilco]

11 hours ago, bob smith said:

despite what anyone says, it is a hospitals duty to accept any and all emergency cases without question. Im not saying to walk out without paying is morally right, thats another story, but legally he doesn’t have to pay a cent. 

 

you really are making assumptions - whatever the onus on a hospital to treat, is not the point.

Firstly you are assuming that Thai hospitals are universally equipped to deal with all situations - this is just not true.

THe next question is HOW they decide to treat the patient - they are by no means bound by the sort of ethics you'd expect from a western hospital.

Finally is they are negligent (deliberately or not) there is virtually no possibility of comeback on any of the practitioners involved.

 

If you live in Thailand, I would suggest you seriously review you own status when it comes to healthcare because it sounds like you are making some hugely ill-advised leaps of faith.

 

[tandor]

not sure what the 'dicky knee' has to do with preventing him from leaving

[Ironmike]

To be very honest I've lived here in Phuket for 18 years now I've been to Vicara twice and found the staff and treatment very good, and yes there was toilet paper and a hose there, I find this story a load of BS because you do not get Lukemia over night and maybe the real. Reason he didn't get insurance was because of this factor so his plan to come here te Thailand for free medical back fired on his stupid ass, so call your family and pay your bill you low life scumbag why should other donate anything to you. 

[tandor]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

No Paper... Lol.

Went to my local park for some exercise as usual.

There is a toilet block for the people at the park,

I needed to take a dump so went in for the first time to use the facilities.

Four traps each side, four for male four for females..

Open door to trap one, the floor level squat affair... pass.

Trap two, same... pass.

Trap three, door locked out of order.

Trap four, euro style toilet [non-flush], okay, sit down do the business, look around, no paper, just a tank full of water and a bowl.

Hands now wet, ar$e dripping with water... nothing to dry anything on !!!!!

 

Thailand 2023...

didn't you call out to mummy..."Im finished"

[Chongalulu]

12 hours ago, bignok said:

Idiot.

A kindred spirit for Bignok

 

[jaideedave]

11 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I don't think you can just walk out. I have been to dental centers and a hospital here and the cashier is right there before you get to the elevator and they are definately watching so you don't leave. I had a question at the cashier last time and staff immediately appeared behind me quicker then usual. I think they would call security if he just walked out.

A few years ago I had quarterly Dr appointments at BPH heart center.

When done with the Dr a nurse would accompany me to the cashiers window on the next floor and didn't leave until my payment was completed.

It got to the point where I almost said something like "whats up don't you trust me?" and then I realized that they don't! 

It pissed me off because my insurance company at the time paid out well over 1 mil previously for bypass surgery.

After checking the thick invoice I noticed the bill was well and truly padded.pricks