Picture courtesy of Manchester Evening News

 

A British veteran, Alexander Parker, is in intensive care in Thailand with suspected lymphoma, prompting his family to urgently raise funds to bring him back to the UK. Parker, 73, a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary officer, served in the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia, and Iraq. He became critically ill in Chanthaburi and is facing daily medical bills of £500 while his family struggles to cover costs.

 

Parker, who had been working as a teacher in Thailand, experienced severe health issues starting with stomach pain five months ago. Initially treated for acid reflux, he was later found to have spleen and liver ulcers, leading to his admission in critical condition by August. His condition deteriorated despite treatment, and his family was shocked to find him in a community hospital with minimal care.

 

Transferred to King Prajadhipok Memorial Hospital, Parker now requires intensive care as his spleen has collapsed a lung, necessitating daily drainage. Tests suggest an 80% likelihood of lymphoma, but results are not definitive. Facing staggering medical expenses and lacking health insurance, the family is unable to afford private healthcare or the estimated £30,000 to £85,000 cost for medical evacuation to the UK.

 

A GoFundMe campaign has gathered over £8,000, with support from forces charities, yet the Royal British Legion is unable to pay the medical bills directly. Local MSP Jackie Baillie has offered assistance, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as Parker wishes to return home to his family.

 

Parker’s condition highlights the risks for British nationals abroad without insurance. Many have resorted to crowdfunding in Thailand to manage soaring medical costs, often with little success. The family's efforts continue as they seek a resolution to bring Parker back for treatment in the UK.

 

Key Takeaways

• Alexander Parker, a British veteran, is critically ill in Thailand with suspected lymphoma and faces high medical costs.
• The family has raised over £8,000 through crowdfunding, amidst challenges in paying for care and potential evacuation.
• Parker’s case underscores the dangers of being uninsured abroad, with numerous similar instances reported.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-10-01

 

 

73 years old and was still teaching English in Thailand to try and cover living expenses. Doesn't sound like the guy was very prepared for any eventualities at all. One has to wonder why he didn't go back and live with family in the UK 10 years ago given his financial situation. Had he been there at least there would have been some form of safety net. Now it looks like a very slippery slope. 

...same 'ole story..."uninsured"... 

 

"Stupid is as stupid does..."... - Forrest Gump

time for another gofundme to open. good thing there are lots of Brits in Thailand that are rich and can send millions to his aid. 

As soon as you find out you have serious problems, fly back to your home country, if possible. From my personal experience I do not have much faith in diagnostic skills of most doctors here.

What role does being a veteran play? It's the same as 'dad of 3....' or 'granddad...' why not 'ex greengrocer has heart attack' who cares, you've bought the wrong lottery ticket mate.

2 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

As soon as you find out you have serious problems, fly back to your home country, if possible. From my personal experience I do not have much faith in diagnostic skills of most doctors here.

Tend to agree with that, 70+ and still working with no real health care plan in place...

2 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

As soon as you find out you have serious problems, fly back to your home country, if possible. From my personal experience I do not have much faith in diagnostic skills of most doctors here.

They are good surgeons and post -diagnosis carers,  but diagnosis itself is not their strong point.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Parker’s condition highlights the risks for British nationals abroad without insurance. Many have resorted to crowdfunding in Thailand to manage soaring medical costs, often with little success.

Oh, you don't say? Hard to believe that statement. The British always seem so well prepared. 

Not everyone wants to buy health insurance, because many see insurance as a kind of sham.

 

Better to set aside a pile of $$ for emergencies.

 

If you catch a long disease with a death sentence like cancer, just live through it and die, like a real man, and fnck the insurance co's.

When he was told what was initially wrong and his health started to deteriorate why did he not then go to the UK , instead waiting till it got to the point he is in hospital.

The GoFundMe begging bowl deters people from taking care of their OWN future.

19 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

As soon as you find out you have serious problems, fly back to your home country, if possible. From my personal experience I do not have much faith in diagnostic skills of most doctors here.

People dont like your post, must mean that its true

14 minutes ago, jfeigel said:

...same 'ole story..."uninsured"... 

 

"Stupid is as stupid does..."... - Forrest Gump

Dear oh dear ..another expat seriously ill with no money who wants to go home , family can't afford the evacuation or ongoing medical  costs and so another Go Fund Me appeal . How many more are we gonna have?? Maybe for eveyones sake when an expat reaches a   certain age where health can be an issue and goes to get his visa extended he will have to post a bond that is enough to cover future  costs or proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation to home country.If they can't meet this requirement then no visa extension  and they  go back home.This may sound cruel but the reality is at least they can get cheap or free health care in their own country .

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He became critically ill in Chanthaburi and is facing daily medical bills of £500 while his family struggles to cover costs.

A few things don't quite add up here. It sounds like he's in a government hospital. And based on the photo, it doesn't even look like he's in an air-conditioned area of the hospital. Could he really be paying that much per day to lie in that simple bed with a fan and a machine that monitors heart rate? It also doesn't look like he's on much life-support for someone supposedly in critical condition. Just oxygen it appears.
 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Parker, 73, a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary officer, served in the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia, and Iraq.

Wouldn't a Royal Feet Auxiliary officer who served in 4 countries have some sort of decent military pension plus a state pension from the UK? Hard to understand how his financial situation could be that dire. 

30 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

As soon as you find out you have serious problems, fly back to your home country, if possible. From my personal experience I do not have much faith in diagnostic skills of most doctors here.

That's what he should have done don't forget he served his country and they should help him 

His health issues didn't rise within a few days or weeks.

So, he knew about it.

To arrive in Thailand without a proper insurance is stupid in this case.

But hey, no problem, just go around begging. As usual.

Seems to be common in his home country. 

1 minute ago, wavodavo said:

Dear oh dear ..another expat seriously ill with no money who wants to go home , family can't afford the evacuation or ongoing medical  costs and so another Go Fund Me appeal . How many more are we gonna have?? Maybe for eveyones sake when an expat reaches a   certain age where health can be an issue and goes to get his visa extended he will have to post a bond that is enough to cover future  costs or proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation to home country.If they can't meet this requirement then no visa extension  and they  go back home.This may sound cruel but the reality is at least they can get cheap or free health care in their own country .

Actually not, if you've been out of the UK for a considerable time you can't resource the NHS or any benefits until you have shown that your repatriation is permanent which can take a long time and requires proof. The UK is basically broke and the NHS is on it's knees, He'll have to go private in the UK and they want the money up front. The UK is no longer as 'social' as it once was.

How do you get a visa to teach at 73? Surely he wouldn't be admitting to working without an appropriate visa?

40 minutes ago, jfeigel said:

...same 'ole story..."uninsured"... 

 

"Stupid is as stupid does..."... - Forrest Gump

That's fine but why use a Private Hospital - Gov Hospital would look after him for less

36 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

What role does being a veteran play? It's the same as 'dad of 3....' or 'granddad...' why not 'ex greengrocer has heart attack' who cares, you've bought the wrong lottery ticket mate.

Agreed👍

 

Surely he has some income the forces pay a reasonable pension doesn't he receive that from his time served? Also some pension from the state and past earnings from teaching. Also if teaching he should be in the Thai social security system. Glad to see he is getting some help from forces charities, even if not enough.

Hope he gets through this and learn from it as we all should. It can happen to any of us at any time.

I have to pay my health insurance renewal this month so I know how expensive it is.

7 minutes ago, Alpha84 said:

A few things don't quite add up here. It sounds like he's in a government hospital. And based on the photo, it doesn't even look like he's in an air-conditioned area of the hospital. Could he really be paying that much per day to lie in that simple bed with a fan and a machine that monitors heart rate? It also doesn't look like he's on much life-support for someone supposedly in critical condition. Just oxygen it appears.
 

Wouldn't a Royal Feet Auxiliary officer who served in 4 countries have some sort of decent military pension plus a state pension from the UK? Hard to understand how his financial situation could be that dire. 

Not sure how it works now but the RFA is not military it's classed as part of the 'merchant navy

17 minutes ago, wavodavo said:

Dear oh dear ..another expat seriously ill with no money who wants to go home , family can't afford the evacuation or ongoing medical  costs and so another Go Fund Me appeal . How many more are we gonna have?? Maybe for eveyones sake when an expat reaches a   certain age where health can be an issue and goes to get his visa extended he will have to post a bond that is enough to cover future  costs or proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation to home country.If they can't meet this requirement then no visa extension  and they  go back home.This may sound cruel but the reality is at least they can get cheap or free health care in their own country .

We already do that , it's the 800k baht hostage money.

Really sorry to read about this one.  So he is a Royal Navy veteran with experience in multiple wars but retired without a pot to piss in.  Sad state of affairs for a Brit to have to teach English in the LoS just to get by.  

And I can understand why he didn't want to live with family in the UK.  Not everybody wants to feel like leaching off of family, especially an old Tar like this gent.

His situation is EXACTLY what gofundme is for.  To pay for an old sailor's dignity when his country has forgotten about him.

9 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Actually not, if you've been out of the UK for a considerable time you can't resource the NHS or any benefits until you have shown that your repatriation is permanent which can take a long time and requires proof. The UK is basically broke and the NHS is on it's knees, He'll have to go private in the UK and they want the money up front. The UK is no longer as 'social' as it once was.

This same old lie again.....  As long as you state that you have returned permanently to live in the UK, you can receive immediate and free NHS treatment.  In any case, he would be considered as an emergency case also.

Unfortunately at his age even with a Work Permit he would not be covered under the Thai Social Security system as he is over retirement age. Also health insurance at that age is prohibitively expensive. 
 

Not surprising he is in this jam but it also affects many others whose employers don’t provide private health insurance. I am lucky as my wife’s Government job covers me.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the family is unable to afford private healthcare

Nor could I that's why I'd use the perfectly good government hospitals, "minimal" care my ass.

22 minutes ago, wavodavo said:

Dear oh dear ..another expat seriously ill with no money who wants to go home , family can't afford the evacuation or ongoing medical  costs and so another Go Fund Me appeal . How many more are we gonna have?? Maybe for eveyones sake when an expat reaches a   certain age where health can be an issue and goes to get his visa extended he will have to post a bond that is enough to cover future  costs or proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation to home country.If they can't meet this requirement then no visa extension  and they  go back home.This may sound cruel but the reality is at least they can get cheap or free health care in their own country .

Per your comment about medical and VISA requirements, what is your age? Try not to think in a box as many people do not have Family from their home country and that could be the reason for the person living in Thailand. I must say your requirements for an elderly person Sucks.

23 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Actually not, if you've been out of the UK for a considerable time you can't resource the NHS or any benefits until you have shown that your repatriation is permanent which can take a long time and requires proof. The UK is basically broke and the NHS is on it's knees, He'll have to go private in the UK and they want the money up front. The UK is no longer as 'social' as it once was.

How does the UK NHS know you have been out of the country? unless your stupid enough to tell them.