Which is CM's most farang friendly local (i.e. public) hospital?

[leb0wsk1]

Hi All,

I've just moved here from Bangkok and need to change my Thai Social Security's "named hospital" to something a bit more local. I've done some research on the available hospitals that accept Thai Social Security and was hoping to tap into the local expertise in this forum to help make an informed choice.

Question: Are there any standout recommendations for "farang friendly" hospitals in the list below?

1. Nakornping (นครพิงค์)

2. Maharat Nakorn Chiangmai (มหาราชนครเชียงใหม่)

3. Sanpatong (สันป่าตอง)

4. Chiangmai Klai Mor (เชียงใหม่ใกล้หมอ)

5. Teppanya (เทพปัญญา)

6. Ratchavet Chiangmai (ราชเวชเชียงใหม่)

7. Lanna (ลานนา)

By "farang friendly" I'm referring to doctors and staff that are reasonably comfortable dealing with foreigners and are able to communicate (more or less) in English.

Any advice/anecdotes/hearsay on which to go for (and which to avoid) would be very much appreciated!

Cheers!

:-)

[masuk]

I'm currently getting some treatment at Sriphat Hospital, part of CM University Medical Faculty.

Although most signs in the building are in Thai, the staff are exceedingly helpful.

It's a busy place, but then it's the main public hospital. Doctors all speak excellent English, as do many of the nursing staff.

[hugocnx]

Difficult to answer. I haven't been to all of these hospitals so cannot give a justified reply. Think this goes for most of us.

Sometimes you 'have' to choose Ram hospital as they have specific equipment. Probably people go to a descent hospital nearby.

Most of them are friendly. McCormick is not in your list?

Ratchavej is quite good, they have specialists for many things. Teppanya will send you over to Lanna as they don't have many spacialists in house.

I was in nearest hospital when I had a kidney stone. I tell you, with that pain you don't really choose. Please help.

[Oscar2]

you had like 20 answers on FB. not enough?

[chiang mai]

None of the ones you've listed really!

If your only criteria is farang friendly then RAM is probably number one and Bangkok Hospital number two.

But if you want the best doctors, Sriphat, first, Suan Dok second, RAM third.

Strange priorities some people have but hey, each to their own.

 

EDIT: Just realised you wrote, public hospitals, sorry!

In that case, Suan Dok and nowhere else, I wouldn't go to Nakornping.

 

Edited August 1, 2016 by chiang mai
Misread Post

[NancyL]

It's evident many people don't know the difference between public and private hospitals or how the Thai Social Security System works.

Your No. 2 choice, Maharat Nakorn Chiang Mai is commonly called Suan Dok hospital and is the big teaching hospital of CMU.  The private part of that hospital system is Sriphat and you won't be able to access that as part of your Social Security.  You may be entitled to upgraded service and rooms, however, in the Suan Dok buildings.  Otherwise, you may find dealing with Suan Hospital for routine matters to be very overwhelming because they are heaving with patients.  Don't get me wrong -- the staff is caring and they get the job done, but there are no frills, no English signs and long waits.  

Lanna Hospital is really a private hospital and is owned by the same outfit that also owns CM Ram with some of the same doctors.  However, a portion of Lanna Hospital accepts patients under the Thai Social Security system and is generally well regarded.  Rachavet Hospital is also a private hospital that apparently accepts patients under Thai Social Security.  They are a smaller hospital and fairly easy to deal with, but they may not offer the full range of services.  Both Lanna and Rachavet (interesting spelling, most spell it Rajavej) will have better English speaking staff skills than Suan Dok.  

I'd suggest staying away from Nakorn Ping, Sanpagtong, Klai Mor and Teppaanya unless they are a stone's throw from your house and you have something not very difficult to diagnose or treat like a deep, bleeding kitchen cut that needs stitches.