Hospital blood pressure and check weight, do I have to !

[pattaya_girl]

Every time I go to a Hospital to see a Doctor, after I register at Reception, I am taken away to check my Blood Pressure and weight.

When I am presented with the Bill, I am always charged for these services even though i never request them.

My question is, are they compulsory, or are we allowed to refuse them? It is every time I go !!!

Thank you in advance for your response.

[Forkinhades]

just say, mai donk ka (no need thanks)

hear what they say...

[pattaya_girl]

Yes I will do next time, but I just wondered if anyone knew for sure.

thank you.

[Toknarok]

Are you going to a private or Government hospital? Whenever I go to my local Govt. hospital they always check my BP and ask for my weight. This then goes onto your records. This proceedure is included in the charge for seeing the doctor. Saves the doctor time to have it done by a nurse prior to consultation.

[ThaiBob]

I get my BP, temp, and weight checked regularly at BHP. You visit a doctor and that is a first sign indicator of a problem. There is no additional charge for this.

[pattaya_girl]

OK thank you for the replies, when i read" Nursing Charges" on my Bill, i was under the impression that is was for this....... because the Nurses do it before you see the Doctor.

So they weigh you and take your blood pressure in with the Doctors consultation fee.

Thanks for the information, glad i asked on here.

[Pattaya28]

I find the private hospitals act in a very mercenary way, example, try to add-on every conceivable extra.

The question always asked is "Are you privately insured?". This question, in my view, is because they know exactly what they can get away with.

But, having said all that, the service they offer is second to none.

[balo]

OK thank you for the replies, when i read" Nursing Charges" on my Bill, i was under the impression that is was for this....... because the Nurses do it before you see the Doctor.

So they weigh you and take your blood pressure in with the Doctors consultation fee.

Thanks for the information, glad i asked on here.

No if it's a private hospital they charge you for it. I always say no to this if I'm not there for a general check up. I went to see a skin specialist at Bangkok Pattaya hospital and they still wanted to check my BP, I said No and saved 300 baht.

[emilymat]

There are clearly differnet views on here. The first thing I wouldsay is the patient can refuse any treatment. No argument on that one.

I got caught at BPH some years ago when I was 'new' in Pataya. I saw a doctor about a painful back - BP/Weight etc taken prior to seeing him.

He then referred me to the Orthopods upstairs and I went there. First thing they did - BP/Weight, even though I told them I had it downstairs earlier.

When I got the bill there were 2 lots of 150 Baht - clearly marked - for that duplication of service.

OK, I paid up vowing to never let that happen again. The old Thailand lags said to me 'put it down to experience - it's not worth complaining'.

I'm afraid there appears to be inflexibility in any matters. The rigidity of the system amazes me. Also, when did you last see a GP or hospital doctor in the UK wearing the mandatory white coat?.

[samsensam]

on my last visit these were taken by a trainee student nurse; young, cute and nervous. worth every setang.

though possibly this pushed my blood pressure was a few notches higher than it should have been

[NickJ]

Its what there taught.....and yes it is a bit viable....imagine if after three months you lost a stone.....thought you were fine........just not hungrey as its a hot country....

..HEY YOU HAVE CANCER!....

Im an old decriped doc............but screenings sort out the masses

[KittenKong]

I get my BP, temp, and weight checked regularly at BHP. You visit a doctor and that is a first sign indicator of a problem. There is no additional charge for this.

Are you sure?

Every private hospital I have ever been to in Thailand has wanted to check my blood pressure and, when I've let them, there has always been a charge. Usually something like "nursing fee". This is always in addition to the doctor's fee.

Nothing stopping you saying "no thanks", of course. Just like there is nothing stopping you from refusing to buy medicine from their overpriced internal pharmacies, which is the other big rip-off in every private Thai hospital I have ever set foot in.

Plenty of scams and overcharging here in all fields, and the sick are easy targets.

[KittenKong]

When I got the bill there were 2 lots of 150 Baht - clearly marked - for that duplication of service.

OK, I paid up vowing to never let that happen again. The old Thailand lags said to me 'put it down to experience - it's not worth complaining'.

Pay up? Sod that.

I bitch and moan and complain until they remove the spurious charges.

It's just organised theft, like so many other things here.

[Jip99]

I get my BP, temp, and weight checked regularly at BHP. You visit a doctor and that is a first sign indicator of a problem. There is no additional charge for this.

Are you sure?

Every private hospital I have ever been to in Thailand has wanted to check my blood pressure and, when I've let them, there has always been a charge. Usually something like "nursing fee". This is always in addition to the doctor's fee.

Nothing stopping you saying "no thanks", of course. Just like there is nothing stopping you from refusing to buy medicine from their overpriced internal pharmacies, which is the other big rip-off in every private Thai hospital I have ever set foot in.

Plenty of scams and overcharging here in all fields, and the sick are easy targets.

Same same.

Last time at Surin hospital. I said I didn't need BP and weight checked as I had a printout of every day for the last 2 months.

They said "OK".... buggers still charged 150 Baht for that 'nursing fee' whether I had it checked or not.

[Beardog]

I have my blood checked a couple times a year at Pattaya International & I tell them I don't need weight or BP taken or to see the doctor. Since I know how to read everything tested it is a waste to have them check my weight . I have a scale at home & my BP I have a Systolic diastolic & BP measure machine & a docctor to read me what I know already is worthless. That cuts the bill down by 50% every time. I don't think it is a requirement anywhere but they try to slam you into it to get the charges up . Just say no need!

[ThaiBob]

I get my BP, temp, and weight checked regularly at BHP. You visit a doctor and that is a first sign indicator of a problem. There is no additional charge for this.

Are you sure?

Every private hospital I have ever been to in Thailand has wanted to check my blood pressure and, when I've let them, there has always been a charge. Usually something like "nursing fee". This is always in addition to the doctor's fee.

Nothing stopping you saying "no thanks", of course. Just like there is nothing stopping you from refusing to buy medicine from their overpriced internal pharmacies, which is the other big rip-off in every private Thai hospital I have ever set foot in.

Plenty of scams and overcharging here in all fields, and the sick are easy targets.

I can only speak of my experience at BHP. As soon as you say "hello I have an appointment with doctor x" there is a nursing charge. You are registered and sometimes I have my vitals checked and sometimes I do not; then I am taken to examination room. The nurse calls up your file on the computer and then the doctor enters. The nurse remains during the visit. After the exam I am asked if I want a medical certificate (yes!). With medical certificate in hand the nurse escorts me to the cashier after she has updated my computer file. The costs is the same whether I have vitals checked or not (just like my hospital in America). There is an additional nursing fee if the nurse provides an additional service such as dressing a wound.

[SheungWan]

Memorial Hospital does the BP test + height + weight but never been charged for this.

[DogNo1]

Bumrungrad never charges me for checking my blood pressure and weight. On Monday I consulted with my cardiologist and an allergist and my vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, height and weight) were taken before each consultation. There were no charges at all for the consultations or for the taking of the vital signs. I walked out without paying anything. Of course, I am a regular patient there so I do pay for some services such as bloodwork, cardiac stress-ultrasound tests and medicine when it is prescribed.

[balo]

Bumrungrad never charges me for checking my blood pressure and weight. On Monday I consulted with my cardiologist and an allergist and my vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, height and weight) were taken before each consultation. There were no charges at all for the consultations or for the taking of the vital signs. I walked out without paying anything. Of course, I am a regular patient there so I do pay for some services such as bloodwork, cardiac stress-ultrasound tests and medicine when it is prescribed.

I have been to Bumrungrad myself to do an ultrasound , and they charged me extra for BP , so next time I went there for a follow up I asked nurse not to take my BP. if I remember correctly they added 250 baht the first time. , So maybe they drop the charges since your a good , valuable patient for them .

Edited March 3, 2015 by balo

[pattaya_girl]

Some interesting replies, thanks everyone !

[ThaiBob]

I have my blood checked a couple times a year at Pattaya International & I tell them I don't need weight or BP taken or to see the doctor. Since I know how to read everything tested it is a waste to have them check my weight . I have a scale at home & my BP I have a Systolic diastolic & BP measure machine & a docctor to read me what I know already is worthless. That cuts the bill down by 50% every time. I don't think it is a requirement anywhere but they try to slam you into it to get the charges up . Just say no need!

I never liked PI and it's good to know they are charging additional for a routine health procedure. Getting one's temperature and BP checked is medicine 101. I went to BHP for a foot problem, my BP was normal but my temperature was slightly elevated and sure enough I had a developing foot infection. I don't advise on playing doctor although I often skip the weigh in and height step.

[AbeSurd]

I get my BP, temp, and weight checked regularly at BHP. You visit a doctor and that is a first sign indicator of a problem. There is no additional charge for this.

Are you sure?

Every private hospital I have ever been to in Thailand has wanted to check my blood pressure and, when I've let them, there has always been a charge. Usually something like "nursing fee". This is always in addition to the doctor's fee.

Nothing stopping you saying "no thanks", of course. Just like there is nothing stopping you from refusing to buy medicine from their overpriced internal pharmacies, which is the other big rip-off in every private Thai hospital I have ever set foot in.

Plenty of scams and overcharging here in all fields, and the sick are easy targets.

I can only speak of my experience at BHP. As soon as you say "hello I have an appointment with doctor x" there is a nursing charge. You are registered and sometimes I have my vitals checked and sometimes I do not; then I am taken to examination room. The nurse calls up your file on the computer and then the doctor enters. The nurse remains during the visit. After the exam I am asked if I want a medical certificate (yes!). With medical certificate in hand the nurse escorts me to the cashier after she has updated my computer file. The costs is the same whether I have vitals checked or not (just like my hospital in America). There is an additional nursing fee if the nurse provides an additional service such as dressing a wound.

Re BHP I agree with ThaiBob. Sometimes I too agree to have my BP/weight checked, sometimes I don't. But there's always a standard nursing charge whatever.

[KittenKong]

I can only speak of my experience at BHP. As soon as you say "hello I have an appointment with doctor x" there is a nursing charge. You are registered and sometimes I have my vitals checked and sometimes I do not; then I am taken to examination room. The nurse calls up your file on the computer and then the doctor enters. The nurse remains during the visit. After the exam I am asked if I want a medical certificate (yes!). With medical certificate in hand the nurse escorts me to the cashier after she has updated my computer file. The costs is the same whether I have vitals checked or not (just like my hospital in America). There is an additional nursing fee if the nurse provides an additional service such as dressing a wound.

Re BHP I agree with ThaiBob. Sometimes I too agree to have my BP/weight checked, sometimes I don't. But there's always a standard nursing charge whatever.

Seems like a good reason not to go there.

At least the other places do give you the option of not being scammed if you care to ask for it.

[uptheos]

Bumrungrad never charges me for checking my blood pressure and weight. On Monday I consulted with my cardiologist and an allergist and my vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, height and weight) were taken before each consultation. There were no charges at all for the consultations or for the taking of the vital signs. I walked out without paying anything. Of course, I am a regular patient there so I do pay for some services such as bloodwork, cardiac stress-ultrasound tests and medicine when it is prescribed.

If you're a regular patient at Bumrungrad, they've probably fleeced so much money off you for unnecessary things that they feel a bit sorry for you.

[mike2011]

In the past (long time ago), MEmorial always added 20 baht for the step on the scale and the blood-pressure thing. At a public hospital there is no extra-charge. Unless you have something rather specific to be taken care of rather than a routine matter public hospitals are fine and MUCH,MUCH,MUCH cheaper. Many of their doctors work in the evenings in the private hospitals and charge what they can. So better see them during the day. Some gentlemen will read this carefully as it frees their schedule for investing their savings on doctors in some time at the counter.