Any suggestions? I don't think it's life threatening, probably just an ear infection. But my hearing has got very bad in one ear suddenly and isn't getting better. This area is absolutely infested with dentists but I haven't stumbled across a doctor.

in Thailand doctors usually work out of hospitals, even for their private practice.

Bangkok is full of such. Closest to you is probably Mission Hospital http://www.mission-hospital.org/

Thanks for that Sheryl. I left it until this morning it suddenly spread to my throat and nose and I decided I'd better do something. There are actually a few 'clinics' around here but not open on the weekend so I went to Siriraj Hospital which is the nearest.

Took about three hours to be seen but they let me go off and come back. I now have antibiotics for the infection and am to come back in a week to see an ENT specialist.

One question: there was no charge (other than 125B for the antibiotics from the pharmacy, which is very cheap.) I found this very surprising. I queried this specifically with the nurse but she said I didn't have to pay. Is this normal for public hospitals in Thailand?

No, not for foreigners, I think they made a mistake. But the charge would be low.

Mission Hosp on the other hand would have set you back at least 600-700 baht for the consultation...though there'd be no wait.

OK, thanks for that. If they make me pay that sort of amount when I come back no problem, it won't bankrupt me. Seems like quite a good medical system here (I got a raft of vaccinations before and besides the pharmacy fee only paid a 50 baht consultation charge.)

Actually I take that back, the receipt from the hospital pharmacy was itemized. Two items, 50B and 75B. So I guess one of those was the consultation and the other the antibiotics. Still, that is insanely cheap, less than I've paid in much less developed countries (excepting India, where it was actually free... not sure if it should be officially if you are non-Indian, but Indians love to help foreigners.)