Bangkok Pattaya Hospital

[steady]

Last week I had the misfortune for my two children to fall ill at the same time. So we went to our local hospital, Bangkok Pattaya and had reasonable treatment but the doctor then advised that we admit both children for a day or two.

Then came the issue, both children are under four years old so we asked for one room, no problem said the admissions clerk but I have to charge you for two rooms as there are two patients. I responded by saying a small increase in price to cover an additional mattress would be reasonable but not double the price. We argued for a while and could not come to an agreement so I said ok, two rooms, please make sure that they are next to each other. She said no, they would only give us one room as the children were so small. One of those Thailand moments!

After a time of arguing and her phoning her boss we decided to leave and go to another hospital. When I asked for my bill no one would provide it, everyone stopped helping us. However the nurses did continue to keep an eye on children, but no administrative staff would do anything for us. We left without paying and as we were getting to the door one of the staff ran up to us with a piece of paper in her hand saying to pay the bill. I told her to send it to me. It has yet to arrive at our home.

We were in the next hospital when the phone rang, first of all it was the admissions clerk asking “How much you give me for room mister?”. I wasn’t sure if I was at a Thai market or Pattaya beach road. It wasn’t what I expected from a so called professional hospital. Five minutes later I got another call from someone saying no problem room ready. The person did not introduce themselves and when I asked who they were they said they were in charge of admissions at BPH. It was as if they get a commission on whatever money they can charge for the room. I’m not an anti BPH person and there are some doctors there that I would recommend. However the administrative side is much less switched on. Why they don’t have a standard price list which doesn’t change with the weather I don’t know. I always assumed that if an organisation had quality accreditation then prices should be clear, and (hopefully) have a value for money aspect! As a BUPA member I wonder why BUPA allows this hospital to change prices for the same thing depending on the patient's ability to pay.

As an aside we stayed in the other hospital for two hours and the doctor sent the children home after treatment.

[Phil Conners]

>> As an aside we stayed in the other hospital for two hours and the doctor sent the children home after treatment. <<

This is what has been said many times about BPH. It seems to be a money making machine rather than a hospital. Regardless of what is wrong with you they will always try to admit you for a couple of days just to earn the money.

[BWPattaya]

Bupa had one insurance policy which banned the use of BPH. It was cheaper than other policies. Unfortunately this policy is no longer issued.

[Guderian]

I was there back in May to get a BCC removed. Very good treatment at a reasonable price. However, it was very quiet, so like many businesses I suspect they are feeling the financial pinch right now - low season combined with a sharp decline in tourist numbers because of the troubles in Bangkok and ongoing State Of Emergency. Having said that, there's no excuse for the way they treated you and your children. I'd suggest that you arrange an appointment with the most senior manager you can find and explain your frustration. Do they have a complaints or customer services department? Another approach would be to find one of the farang staff working there - you will see them walking around - and ask them who to contact to make a complaint. You won't get any compensation, but the silly admin people who messed you around might get a reprimand.

[barryofthailand]

I was there back in May to get a BCC removed. Very good treatment at a reasonable price. However, it was very quiet, so like many businesses I suspect they are feeling the financial pinch right now - low season combined with a sharp decline in tourist numbers because of the troubles in Bangkok and ongoing State Of Emergency. Having said that, there's no excuse for the way they treated you and your children. I'd suggest that you arrange an appointment with the most senior manager you can find and explain your frustration. Do they have a complaints or customer services department? Another approach would be to find one of the farang staff working there - you will see them walking around - and ask them who to contact to make a complaint. You won't get any compensation, but the silly admin people who messed you around might get a reprimand.

A ver good hospital, with a scottish international manager is Phyathai Hospital in Sriracha which is only about 20 minutes North of Pattaya. Reasonable pricing, good doctors, and good service.

Barry

[rmicheald]

I have insurance through Burpa and I go to International Hospital on Second Road.  It is cheaper for me to NOT use the insurance than to go to BPH and use the insurance.  I HATE BPH.....<br>

[Jingthing]

How much you give for room, Mister? OMG, that's classic!

[raro]

Bupa had one insurance policy which banned the use of BPH. It was cheaper than other policies. Unfortunately this policy is no longer issued.

AFAIK it is blacklisted with LMG because of its creative pricing policies.

I have a paper in my wallet in Thai and English "Please do NOT deliver me to the BPH"...just in case they scrape me off the road one day and I fail to have a handsome sum of money on me...

[Tee2008]

There are many stories about BPH, and who knows if they are true. For instance, one of the first questions you are asked is " do you have insurance ? ". It seems there may be two prices, one if you have insurance, and one if you don't. If you have insurance then the charges will be higher as the hospital knows that the insurance company will pay up to their quoted limits without question. Then there are, as already mentioned, the attempts to keep you in hospital for one or more nights, even when it is not necessary. To be fair, other hospitals have similar accusations against them. Farangs and insurance companies are seen as fair game for large fees.

I was in hospital here recently ( not BPH, but a similarly well known hospital on 2nd Road), and had already spent one night. I was told that a doctor would come to see me to say if I could leave on the second day. When no doctor had appeared by 5pm I asked what was happening. I was told that the doctor would come to see me sometime after midnight to see if I could go. I was of the opinion that this was a blatant attempt to keep me in the hospital room for a second night, and informed the staff that I had no intention of paying for a second night as no doctor had been to see me all day. Within 5 minutes someone was there with a bill for me pay, which I did, and I then left.

[raro]

There are many stories about BPH, and who knows if they are true.

I do know enough stories from first hand account (including myself) to take a wide berth around this establishment.

[TheWalkingMan]

A ver good hospital, with a scottish international manager is Phyathai Hospital in Sriracha which is only about 20 minutes North of Pattaya. Reasonable pricing, good doctors, and good service.

Barry

This is a very nice place! For guys whose ladies want a nose job, this place seemed to do them on a very, very regular basis. I think it was less than 15k, but I cannot remember the exact price.

TheWalkingMan

[Phil Conners]

Eww, nothing worse than a Thai with a nose job (except maybe a chin job) ... looks so fake...

[Beardog]

Bangkok Pattaya hospital sucks compared to Any of the other hospitals! As Phil pointed out they are a money making machine & one can tell by the true lack of concern for the individuals health & more about the payment on the new additions in the hospital.They are typically 50-100 % higher in price with no benifit for the extra charged price.

[johnlexo]

Best to stay far away from this place. Lots of horror and rip-off stories. JL.