Ok, so no "Investigative reports" yet. We can play a collective game of Scooby Doo and figure this out using our internet swarm intelligence powers

In the UK, everyone gets the same mediocre standard!

Everyone that isn't considered important gets the same treatment.

Can't imagine any MPs or their families having to wait very long.

It really is unbelievable the negative knockers that come on TV.

The British NHS is the finest in the world. Yes of course it has faults, yes, it leaks money, yes, it is management overstaffed, yes, nurses are underpaid but by God, I am really thankful we have it.

Why do you think this poor guy has gone home as soon as he was fit enough? I'll tell you why, because although BSH has brilliant up to date facilities, the cost of surgery and after care (without adequate health insurance to pay for it) is prohibitive. He has gone home for continued care courtesy of the NHS as soon as he could.

In the last three years I have had the misfortune to need three operations. All were carried out in a timely and professional manner by staff employed by the NHS and I have nothing but praise for them in the way I was treated and with the aftercare which helped, thankfully with a full recovery.

Mmm - but go home after just 6 months outside the UK and - legally - you are not eligible for free NHS treatment anymore. And it is nothing to do with N.I, contributions for a lifetime etc - it is based purely on residency during the past 12 months. Before anyone jumps in with anecdotes about getting everything they needed completely free on returning to the UK - yes, it happens; there are many GPs who simply don't agree with the policy, and some - amazingly - who say they haven't even heard about it. But turn up at the leading teaching hospital Addenbrooke's in Cambridge with any clues you might have been abroad, and you'll probably be asked to present your passport for scrutiny. Two ways around this i know about : 1) wait 12 months back in Blighty to re-qualify for free care (not often an option!), or 2) tell whoever asks about your situation that you have come home for good - you are an ex-ex-pat. But of course, strictly-speaking, you could only use this tale once. Again before anyone jumps in...i'm not saying that if you turn up at an NHS Accident & Emergency dept with a life-threatening condition they will not save your hide - of course they will - but as soon as you go into a ward and start receiving medication, therapies, etc...the till will start clicking. This is not a new story, but it still amazes me how little it's been covered in the usual tabloid scandal-rags such as the Mail, Express, Mirror, Sun... or whichever are still going in this digital age. On the face of it, if ever there was a hot story to turn into a tabloid campaign this is it - but i guess they've made a cunning calculation about the proportion of their readers tucked away in drafty bungalows in grey old Britain, versus those who are basking under foreign skies....and looked the other way. If it matters, the rule was brought in by Stephen Byers when he was Blair's Health Secretary, and the original time-limit was only 3 months ! Bet he's with Bupa ;-)

I don't question the accuracy of your statements cdp, but this guy only had his accident at the most 8 weeks ago and will have no problem getting treatment on the NHS

My wife and I have used the medical facilities here in Thailand and have found them quite good. BUT this is the problem we have seen continuously, an ambulance with lights and siren going and NOBODY giving them the right of way, I thought emergency vehicles have the right of way throughout the world but I guess not here

Really.

I don't see that.

Where I live people pull over right away.....

Never happens when I see them, and I would guess I see an ambulance with lights and siren at least once a week. Have never seen a Thai even attempt to pull over, not that they really could on Sukhumvit during peak times, but they don't on less congested roads either. I guess they don't get taught that in drivers training.

In the UK, everyone gets the same mediocre standard!

Everyone that isn't considered important gets the same treatment.

Can't imagine any MPs or their families having to wait very long.

No, its called private healthcare. Its available to anyone who can afford it or works for a company or organisation that provides it as a benefit in kind.

If everyone in the UK had private healthcare for free the system would not be able to support itself. At least there is a safety net for people who are not in a position to pay for private care or have it afforded to them by their employer.

Yes and the Private Heathcare Companies use NHS Facilities and NHS Doctors and Specialists,where they all learned there trade in the first place,before realising: there is more money to be made by becoming specialists,and hiring themselves back to the NHS. A well known route to Megabucks!

That's because the news in other places is covering the knifings, shootings, gang rapes and peadaphiles grooming rings. People falling/jumping/being pushed off balconies does not sell newspapaers in most countries. It does not mean that it does not happen.

KuhnPaen, on 2013-01-30 21:19:34, said:

Found this...Wow...an actual "death by balcony- awareness campaign." Oh my.

http://www.dailymail...rs-dangers.html

And good on ya mate for this.

Refreshing to actually see intelligent posts instead of all the bored, cynical, uneducated, dare I say egotistical and/or drunk post that we see so much of on TV.

Thanks Kuhen Paen

My wife and I have used the medical facilities here in Thailand and have found them quite good. BUT this is the problem we have seen continuously, an ambulance with lights and siren going and NOBODY giving them the right of way, I thought emergency vehicles have the right of way throughout the world but I guess not here

Really.

I don't see that.

Where I live people pull over right away.....

Never happens when I see them, and I would guess I see an ambulance with lights and siren at least once a week. Have never seen a Thai even attempt to pull over, not that they really could on Sukhumvit during peak times, but they don't on less congested roads either. I guess they don't get taught that in drivers training.

Oh, you like in Bangkok.

That explains it..........

My wife and I have used the medical facilities here in Thailand and have found them quite good. BUT this is the problem we have seen continuously, an ambulance with lights and siren going and NOBODY giving them the right of way, I thought emergency vehicles have the right of way throughout the world but I guess not here

Really.

I don't see that.

Where I live people pull over right away.....

Never happens when I see them, and I would guess I see an ambulance with lights and siren at least once a week. Have never seen a Thai even attempt to pull over, not that they really could on Sukhumvit during peak times, but they don't on less congested roads either. I guess they don't get taught that in drivers training.

Oh, you like in Bangkok.

That explains it..........

Here you never know.

Could be your family, a friend or someone's child in there......

I used to stay in an apartment block in Bangkok which has a very low parapet on the balconies. I think you don't have to be very intoxicated to topple over on such a balcony without assistance. This guy isn't saying his fall was assisted is he?

u r right ...why the fxxk do the authorities allow such low height balconies ...u dont even have to be drunk

Off topic posts deleted.

I used to stay in an apartment block in Bangkok which has a very low parapet on the balconies. I think you don't have to be very intoxicated to topple over on such a balcony without assistance. This guy isn't saying his fall was assisted is he?

some of the way these buildings are build out here this does not suprise me

i stayed in a hotel in phuket were the only thing blocking a 6 story drop and the floor was an ash tray. so i had to lock my kid in my room because the chances of her walking off the esdge were very high

Never happens when I see them, and I would guess I see an ambulance with lights and siren at least once a week. Have never seen a Thai even attempt to pull over, not that they really could on Sukhumvit during peak times, but they don't on less congested roads either. I guess they don't get taught that in drivers training.

Oh, you like in Bangkok.

That explains it..........

Here you never know.

Could be your family, a friend or someone's child in there......

I know and that thought goes through my head every time I see an ambulance just sitting in traffic waiting. I think to myself, I hope the emergency workers are able to stabilize the patient enough in route that they don't die in route.

If something happened to someone in my family and I was there, I wouldn't call an ambulance, I would drive them myself. The ambulance would be delayed getting to the house then delayed again getting to the hospital.

Never happens when I see them, and I would guess I see an ambulance with lights and siren at least once a week. Have never seen a Thai even attempt to pull over, not that they really could on Sukhumvit during peak times, but they don't on less congested roads either. I guess they don't get taught that in drivers training.

Oh, you like in Bangkok.

That explains it..........

Here you never know.

Could be your family, a friend or someone's child in there......

I know and that thought goes through my head every time I see an ambulance just sitting in traffic waiting. I think to myself, I hope the emergency workers are able to stabilize the patient enough in route that they don't die in route.

If something happened to someone in my family and I was there, I wouldn't call an ambulance, I would drive them myself. The ambulance would be delayed getting to the house then delayed again getting to the hospital.

I would too.

Unless they NEEDED the equipment in the ambulance to survive.

I am however a trained EMT so that could help.

Lucky for me the hospital here is only a 10 minute drive (5 if it's an emergency !).