Briton's Dream Anniversary Trip to Thailand Turns into a Medical Nightmare

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Daily Mail

 

A dream holiday to Thailand for Pamela Gatehouse, a British grandmother, has taken a tragic turn into a medical emergency, leaving her family rallying for support.

 

The 69-year-old from Carshalton, Surrey, intended to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary with her husband, John, in Thailand. However, following a bout of tonsillitis contracted in India, Pamela's health rapidly declined in Thailand.

 

What began as a common sore throat escalated dramatically. Pamela developed a severe infection, resulting in a gruesome wound on her neck that required immediate medical intervention.

 

Rushed to hospital on February 12, the day after her birthday, she has since undergone four surgeries to remove infected tissue, incurring medical expenses of £15,300 (approximately 651,000 baht) so far.

 

The Gatehouses are facing mounting medical costs, with expected total expenses reaching at least £33,300 (about 1.42 million baht).

Picture courtesy: Daily Mail

 

With their travel insurance failing to cover the necessary treatments, John has resorted to maxed-out credit cards and is now appealing to the public for help through a fundraiser.

 

In addition to the financial strain of ongoing medical treatments, the prospect of returning home is daunting. A commercial flight with a stretcher could cost around £42,500 (approximately 1.81 million baht), while an air ambulance is estimated at £140,000 (about 5.97 million baht).

 

Daughter Claire, based in the UK, is fervently working to assist her parents from afar. Meanwhile, John remains by Pamela's bedside daily, determined to support her through this harrowing ordeal.

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been notified, but immediate financial support is critical. The family hopes that contributions to their fundraiser will provide the assistance they desperately need during this challenging time, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-21

 

 

[hotsun]

Consider vacations to countries with clean air, especially the elderly

[OneMoreFarang]

They should be old enough to know that you better make sure you have a decent health cover when you travel.

[tjintx]

Drinking beer over ice, you see, there's your problem, right there.

[Upnotover]

Well well, well.  Daily Mail.  India.  Thailand.  Insurance failure.  Fundraiser.

[MikeandDow]

Is gofundme a public listed company yet ? would like to buy some shares make a fortune !

[frank83628]

13 minutes ago, tjintx said:

Drinking beer over ice, you see, there's your problem, right there.

Why, the ice isn't tap water

[Jimjim1]

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

They should be old enough to know that you better make sure you have a decent health cover when you travel.

I agree with you 98% with the other 2% being taken up by the reality that insurance companies apart from bankers are probably the most corrupt companies on the planet, every action they take is underhand and designed to remove themselves from the responsibility that we all trustingly pay them for.

I myself travel with £10,000,000 cover BUT trying to get a definitive answer from them when it comes to ALL of the things they will cover and take responsibility for is not easily forthcoming, so one lives in fear that in the event of something untoward happening one’s insurance company will be for armed with a way of getting out of it that it did not impart at the time of taking out the insurance.

I have commented here in the past about travellers duty to themselves and others regarding 100% foolproof insurance but on reflection I would dearly love to know how one can find it.

[it is what it is]

26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

They should be old enough to know that you better make sure you have a decent health cover when you travel.

 

looking at the way some foreigners behave here it's clear age is no guide to being smart...

[Jim Blue]

Why do I think this is deja vu all over again , hope I spelt that right ....

[tjintx]

10 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Why, the ice isn't tap water

 

I am thinking that photo was taken in India (Kingfisher beer being the clue that my steely eye observed), so no assumptions should be taken on the ice source.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

With their travel insurance failing to cover the necessary treatments

Missing is the reason why it is not covered.

[Briggsy]

52 minutes ago, tjintx said:

Drinking beer over ice, you see, there's your problem, right there.

Indeed, Indian ice.

 

You nailed it.

[Bohemianfish]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

They should be old enough to know that you better make sure you have a decent health cover when you travel.

Yep, but sometimes its too much trust (yeah...) with insurance companies. A lot of due diligence is necessary and even then...

 

Suffice to say, most people are lackadaisical about coverage, getting paid, and taking some risk.

 

At their age, they should have medical airlift insurance. Maybe everyone should consider it depending on the price.

 

Insurance is pretty cheap if you prorate it. Mine was $450 for 7 weeks in Europe last year and made sure it wasn't crap insurance. Per day, it's peanuts and was 1,000,000 coverage. Even that might not be enough, but you roll the dice.

 

The details of all these cases seem to be murky and not much information is provided as to why they are in their predicament. Clearly, they were not prepared.

[818Pilot]

I can almost Guarantee they purchased the cheapest travel insurance policy possible, if they purchased one at all. Likely they only had baggage insurance or trip protection with no medical

 

[J Branche]

1 hour ago, Jimjim1 said:

I have commented here in the past about travellers duty to themselves and others regarding 100% foolproof insurance but on reflection I would dearly love to know how one can find it.

It is not easy reviewing the policy, understanding the exclusions, reviewing the process for treatment regarding If you are required if your required to call first and obtain pre approval. Checking reviews of people with claims and their experience.

 

I had a small claim once under $200 and had the check 10 days after submitting paper work.  

 

Didn't a major news outlet do a story where they reported the people reviewing claims (Claims administrators) were instructed to deny a certain amount claims?

[Bohemianfish]

Sound like they were broke, using credit cards from the get go to pay for the bills. And she has COPD along with rare 0 negative blood. And 69 years old. Traveling in India. This according to him in a Mirror article. I guess some people are real risk takers. 

 

Credit him for only asking for the common "$10,000" number for donations.

 

Plus repatriation would be 42,500 pounds up to 140,000 pounds (private air lift).

[decca60]

Golden anniversary  became golden Staphylococcus  ( more than probably)

 

Then four operations for a tonsillectomy  ????????  Well I have my doubts ...

 

 

[Reddavy]

2 hours ago, tjintx said:

Drinking beer over ice, you see, there's your problem, right there.

Say what?

[tonypattaya]

Travel the world, some to exotic countries. No need to take precautions, even if you are elderly. No need to ensure that you have proper medical insurance cover. If you get ill or have an accident, just beg through gofundmesomethingorother 

[ronster]

From her condition I would be surprised if she needed stretcherd back on a plane.

May need a nurse to assist her on the flight and possible oxygen given during the flight , but doesn't look like stretcher case.

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Oh no, the Brit's again. When will they learn??🥺😕😳😵‍💫

 

 

You just can't escape your racism, can you.....

[kuzmabruk]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Missing is the reason why it is not covered.

Maybe the entire story is fake news and just a way to make money. Seems this story keeps replaying with different names and photos - but always same story.  

[newbee2022]

5 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

You just can't escape your racism, can you.....

Oh are the Brit's a race?? 

[The Fugitive]

9 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Oh no, the Brit's again. When will they learn??🥺😕😳😵‍💫

Never, ever I'm afraid. I'm a Brit too.

[Nick Carter icp]

7 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

You just can't escape your racism, can you.....

 

   Irish people don't like British people .

Its xenophobia more than racism 

[newbee2022]

1 minute ago, The Fugitive said:

Never, ever I'm afraid. I'm a Brit too.

It's Karma, ?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, hotsun said:

Consider vacations to countries with clean air, especially the elderly

And affordable health care

[Ironmike]

Some people shouldn't travel if you can't afford a reliable and decent insurance company then stay home the British are the number 1 race that jump straight onto the gofundme to get money and it seems to work quite well... But saying that it's also a great way to have other people pay for your entire trip sorry but I won't be donating any money. 

[MadAtMatrix]

How about they explain WHY the travel insurance won't cover them. Why should they rely on the graciousness of others for their plight? Do they have investment funds - if so, liquidate them. Own property - mortgage it.  

Every day it is someone looking for money from others to cover their medical costs.