1669 Emergency number in Pattaya , Really ?

[rsumner]

Pattaya city say's in emergency call 1669 mainly for tourists. Has anyone ever found a English speaking person at this emergency number ? I have called a few times just to ask if in a emergency can i get a ambulance .1669 is the emergency room of Banglamung Hospital. Where as i have found English is not spoken. Therefore as you're laying on the floor dying of a stroke the person who answers 1669 can only say in English to farang. Call private hospital in Pattaya. Then hangs up phone. I guess living with Thai girl you will get a ambulance but try calling on your own. You will be found next day by cleaning lady. The news will say farang found dead in room.

[Satcommlee]

You could memorise and call 1719 for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead, but they probably ask for your credit card details first..

Alternatively, the body snatchers in the pick-ups will come and get you.

[rsumner]

You could memorise and call 1719 for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead, but they probably ask for your credit card details first..

Alternatively, the body snatchers in the pick-ups will come and get you.

Thank you but i not have credit card. 1 time when i did have a credit card and taken unconscious to Pattaya Int'l hosp they charged 25,000 bt to the card. They removed from my wallet as i was unconscious.

[blackman]

You could memorise and call 1719 for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead, but they probably ask for your credit card details first..

Alternatively, the body snatchers in the pick-ups will come and get you.

Thank you but i not have credit card. 1 time when i did have a credit card and taken unconscious to Pattaya Int'l hosp they charged 25,000 bt to the card. They removed from my wallet as i was unconscious.

if you have insurance, you could pre-register at BPH and lodge the insurance providers details and policy number on your record

that way you are already covered in an emergency

[moonseeker]

You could memorise and call 1719 for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead, but they probably ask for your credit card details first..

Alternatively, the body snatchers in the pick-ups will come and get you.

that is a good start for the day...made me smile.....THX. MS>

[JSixpack]

Easy: get a Thai speaker to make a recording in Thai of an emergency ambulance request to your address. Play the recording on the phone to Banglamung.

I didn't know Banglamung has any ambulance. Sirikit does.

Or you can call a taxi service where English is spoken.

[Ungabunga]

You may be better off dialling 1150, which is for Pizza Hut. Their drivers are very fast and the operators speak English.

[Gone]

Blackman was correct. The best way is to have insurance and a good policy covers ambulance costs etc.

[rsumner]

I am asking why the city of Pattaya gives out a emergency number 1669 if a farang can not call it ? I atill have no answer to my question !!!

And how does someone go out look for taxi if there lying on the floor having a heart attack ?

And last but not least how do i get insurance at age 70 ?

[simple1]

If you are so concerned BPH (staff generally have good English skills), has an emergency mobile cardiac ambulance service. BPH also has an emergency general ambulance service despatched to your home for 3,900 baht. I guess they could stabilise until sent to a government hospital. Banglamung hospital doesn't have high quality specialists for heart conditions (two elderly members of my Thai family were miss diagnosed) & would probably transfer you to Chon Buri hospital, by which time you may have died.

If you are concerned regards over servicing in case of a terminal condition, you can have a Living Will, which is legal in Thailand.

Edited August 6, 2013 by simple1

[brummiebob]

I'd be better to call their own (the city's) call centre on 1337 which is usually pretty good with English and have them speak to the hospital on your behalf.

I saw a couple of ambulance with Banglamung signs on them in front of the hospital so they do exist, maybe only used for transfers between hospitals or something, most people that can only afford Banglamung tends to arrive with the 'body snatchers' though

[blackman]

Burke & Hare ambulances

[ronthai]

Unless somebody is a lone soul, it is best to call one of your farang (with a Thai partner) or Thai friends and have them handle it.

Of course they should know where you live. Also have in your phone an Emergency number, just name it EMERGENCY and put a number of a trusted friend with it for people to call, incase of an emergency.

Police and hospital will always check your phone, I think anyway they do that.

[pogal]

1669 outside of Bangkok is Narenthorn the government medical service who will dispatch the appropriate level of vehicle for your situation, of which heart problems would be a serious case and so an "advanced ambulance" would be sent from a government hospital.(or participating private hospital, which means they are registered with the government to provide a free service that the government will pay for).

Inside Bangkok the number is 1646 which is Erawan, and the same situation applies although they are nto as experienced as Narenthorn and occasionally mess up calls.

In theory all these services have English speaking staff on standby too. If you have called this number and not had English help, I would make a complaint directed to: 02-5901669 http://ems.narenthorn.or.th (But their website is all in Thai LOL)

Unfortunately Erawan and Narenthorn and not really working together well and it is obvious that Erawan should be dissolved and Narenthorn brought back in control but no one wants to give up their power so things will continue to be inconsistent until the problems are resolved but its been 3-4 years now and little improvement. The government medical institute recommended that Thailand use only one number 1669 to be implemented this year but it seems Erawan is fighting that.

[watcharacters]

I am asking why the city of Pattaya gives out a emergency number 1669 if a farang can not call it ? I atill have no answer to my question !!!

And how does someone go out look for taxi if there lying on the floor having a heart attack ?

And last but not least how do i get insurance at age 70 ?

.

Valid questions, all of them.

[blackman]

i knew my wife and I's days were numbered when i had a heart attack and she mailed for an ambulance..

[PoodMaiDai]

You may be better off dialling 1150, which is for Pizza Hut. Their drivers are very fast and the operators speak English.

Post of the day.

And 100% true.

[Emdog]

Here's a radical idea: Learn Thai

[Tagaa]

About 10 days ago I was having a beer with a friend by Lake Maprachan. As we sat there, a guy in a pickup did a right turn right in front of another Thai gut on a motorcy. Needless to say the guy on the mororcy was not OK. After all the bar girls went over to look, then came back, I asked them if anyone called an ambulance. They all responded NO. So, I called 1669 that I have saved on my phone for an ambulance. I then handed the phone to the cashier at the bar so she could give whoever answered all the specific details. She handed the phone back and said something about they dont care & to call1719. Her words, not mine.

I then dialed 1719 & gave the phone back to her again. This time she says help is on the way....maybe. About 30 minutes later an ambulance arrived.

I don't know the difference, but this was my experience.

The take away here is that very few people care....especially government workers.

You are on your own...this is something I am quite aware of & that I never forget. I know if I have a heart attack or GOD forbid a stroke, I am sure I will not receive the help I need in a timely/ delayed manner. I know I have to accept the risk.

Remember life is cheap here for a Thai....lets not even talk about a farang.

Trust the Thai rescue system at your own peril.

[jspill]

Here's a radical idea: Learn Thai

This. At your age you could've worked out by now not to expect first world standards from Thailand, and picked up some basic Thai.

[krabimike]

I always wonder why we dont see more private ambulance service with english speaking nurses and paramedic? maybe even have a membership that has you all dialed in as to where you live and who you are and your payment method for a small monthly fee then when dispatched you are charged accordingly

[blackman]

printed on the back of my BPH hospital card

[ThaiBob]

You could memorise and call 1719 for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead, but they probably ask for your credit card details first..

Alternatively, the body snatchers in the pick-ups will come and get you.

Thank you but i not have credit card. 1 time when i did have a credit card and taken unconscious to Pattaya Int'l hosp they charged 25,000 bt to the card. They removed from my wallet as i was unconscious.

If you are uninsured with no cc (with a high limit) then you are living dangerously. Finding English speakers at 1669 or having hospital staff go through your pockets is the least of your problems. Get a cc, get registered at BHP and should you need help, call 1719. I know several instances where 1719 was a life saver.

[jmccarty]

I am asking why the city of Pattaya gives out a emergency number 1669 if a farang can not call it ? I atill have no answer to my question !!!

And how does someone go out look for taxi if there lying on the floor having a heart attack ?

And last but not least how do i get insurance at age 70 ?

BUPA International will cover you up to 120 years old at a very high cost!

http://quote.bupa-intl.com/

[jinners]

Here's a radical idea: Learn Thai

This. At your age you could've worked out by now not to expect first world standards from Thailand, and picked up some basic Thai.

Not very helpful when the guys 70.

I know many guys a lot younger that can't speak a word of Thai and even my limited Thai doesn't include, I'm having a heart attack/stroke/been knocked down/stabbed etc in Thai

[Phil Conners]

Actually my wife once called 1719 to request an ambulance to a farang friend who thought he was having a heart attack. After 20 they had still not arrived, and when my wife called back they had not even left yet, asking if we really needed it.

As it happened he felt better at that time so we cancelled it again, but if anyone really needs an ambulance from 1719 I recommend they call back every few minutes to reconfirm the need and check progress.