Queues thick in Hua Hin Hospital
Lizzy Bos's bruised elbow took the family to Hua Hin Hospital. Hours of waiting was the result, along with many dozens of other visitors to this medical factory.
A game at a friend's house caused a fall and pain in Lizzy's elbow. When the pain continued, the choice came: to the Bangkok Hospital or the state hospital in Hua Hin? Lizzy also has a Thai passport and is allowed to use cheap medical care. In the Bangkok Hospital she is only insured inpatient. The connoisseurs know that the bill there can be quite high.
A visit to the emergency room of Hua Hin Hospital requires a firm stomach. Anyone who has something wrong will report here, from falls in the kitchen to exposed limbs after a collision with the scooter. There are curtains as a screen between the beds, but they do not close until the end is approaching. A stretcher is wheeled across the room on its way to the morgue. It's a resident of our neighborhood who hanged himself. A green tent over the body, so that everyone knows what is going on.
Lizzy's elbow does not appear to be broken on X-rays, but is painful and somewhat swollen. The body part is expertly fixed and wrapped. With some medicines I tap 1500 baht, a bargain. But then the medical merry-go-round begins, because the bone doctor expects Lizzy a few days later. To do this, the patient must first get a 'Q' in the early morning. In other words: a serial number for the treatment. At six in the morning the first patients are already waiting, until the nurse tries to bring some order to the chaos at seven, before the doctor starts work at eight.
The waiting room is now an anthill, with all kinds of 'ants', in wheelchairs, with crutches, in the company of son, daughter or mother. The resignation with which the entire waiting process takes place is remarkable. No intruding or loud commentary. Parking is a complete disaster, also because the parking lot at the back is under water. The story goes that the previous director of the hospital spent the available 10 million baht on 'other things'. The worst problems may be solved when the parking garage under construction is finished.
After a week, Lizzy has to have another photo taken for a checkup. The first Thai with karaoke starts at half past eight in the courtyard. And that on an empty stomach. There is a market next to it and a corridor further on houses the sellers of lottery tickets.
What is striking is the average age of the patients. On that basis you could conclude that Thailand is aging, although this is of course not an average of the population. What is also striking is that three-quarters of the people are clearly overweight. Anyway, after three visits Lizzy has still not seen a fracture and she has to get rid of the pain through a lot of movement. And I'm looking for a cup of hot cappuccino. Because they also have them in the Hua Hin Hospital.
What is remarkable about taking turns, not yelling and not pushing ahead?
Nothing, of course Rob. Unfortunately, this is regularly lacking at first aid posts in Dutch hospitals. Drunk patients and any accompanying persons, who loudly demonstrate their presence and often demand priority for treatment, are no exception. Was last month on a Saturday afternoon at a doctor's office in a Dutch hospital. The employees of the reception were behind thick glass for their own protection and forms were passed through a hatch. Like Hans Bos, I find the orderly waiting for their turn, and not only in hospitals, of the vast majority of Thai citizens not only remarkable but also relaxed.
Yes Hans, no it is better not to end up in a state hospital.
Cheap, but then you also have nothing.
Give Lizzy my regards from Chiang Mai and wish her well.
berthy
I have been treated several times in the last two years in the hospital in Hua Hin, in San Paulo. I don't recognize a letter of the writing at all.
I am always neat and tidy and always helped quickly to reasonably quickly. I was also brought in to the emergency room once and it was my turn right away. I never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for checks. It could take a little longer for a recheck at the doctor. I am very and very satisfied with the treatments of the last few times.
My wife also has the same experience. Been to hospital twice.
I think more people have a GOOD experience at hospitals in Hua Hin
Your experiences are with the private hospital San Paulo. It doesn't surprise me that you are helped neatly and quickly there, but it does come with a price tag.
The internist in San Paulo charged me 580 Baht for a consultation and the internist from the military hospital in Pranburi 200 Baht. The SP laboratory charged 1280 Baht for the same operations and 560 Baht in Pranburi. My girlfriend paid 1200 Baht for Chloresterol determination in São Paulo and 280 Baht in the military hospital in Pranburi.
A better service costs money and everything is value for money.
Occasionally I also visit the Hua Hin hospital, either for my Thai girlfriend or for myself. A recognizable story. To speak to a doctor there, there are three options:
1st. As discussed in the story and that is reporting early to the Q nurse and seeing a doctor at the hospital on that day. As written a long pastime. If you have to do this often, it is wise to pamper the Q-nurse with treats to get a more favorable serial number;
2nd. At a number of outpatient clinics in the HH hospital, you can make an appointment with the outpatient assistant for a future appointment on time after 16.00 p.m. 200 Baht must be paid for this facility;
3rd. Many doctors have their own practice, where you can usually go without an appointment. Of course I don't know all the prices, but the ophthalmologist from the hospital charges me 950 Baht for a consultation in her clinic.
And yes, parking on the hospital grounds is a disaster. It is better to park the car on the Phetkasem Road and walk approximately 400 meters to the hospital. Because most Thai people hate walking (in the sun) there is always room there.
We are in the same situation (30 baht card and inpatient for Bangkok hospital), but usually choose to visit a local clinic of the doctor. The same doctor as in the state hospital often holds a clinic somewhere in the city early in the morning and after work for a few hours. We do pay a little more than in the state hospital, but then we don't have to wait half (or a whole!!) day – in what is often almost unbearable heat for me.
I'm not a doctor, but isn't it strange that X-rays have been taken several times when there was no broken bone?
Ruud Tam, of course you do not recognize yourself in the writing, because that is not about San Paolo, but about the Hua Hin Hospital. There is a world in between.
Jasper, we usually also go to a clinic, but they simply do not have access to an X-ray machine. The second photo served as confirmation of the first. According to the doctor.
I think it's highly exaggerated. I myself have been to the Hua Hin Hospital a few times and was always helped quite quickly. They were smaller things, but still.
A good friend of mine had an inguinal hernia. Had to have surgery. At the Bangkok Hospital, this operation had cost 130.000 Baht. In the Hua Hin Hospital it was so cheap, even WITH his own room, that he did not even reach his own contribution: namely 7000 Baht for the operation and 2000 Baht for the overnight stay and care in a private room, so 9000 Baht in total. That's a difference to think about.
He had already been in the Bangkok Hospital after an accident, but was very pleased with the Hua Hin Hospital.
Especially when you hear that the same doctor who treats you at Hua Hin hospital later works at Bangkok hospital.
My insurance will also cover the costs of the Bangkok Hospital, but I have to be in a hurry if I want to be treated there.
Thailand is indeed ageing, you have noticed that well
That is minor now, but will become a bigger problem in the future for the state and its Social Security
Fewer employees who pay contributions for more pensioners who will receive benefits
The SS system will have to move the upper limit, people will have to pay more
Another consequence is that the number of available workers is decreasing, which can also be seen in the migrant workers from Myanma, Laos and Cambodia.
It's time for the robotics that are so detested by many to be introduced. This is also being worked on as you can read in the various media. Thus, the Thai economy remains a force in the region
I was admitted to the emergency room in Hua Hin hospital in April for a stroke, it went quickly, after the x-ray and a conversation with the specialist (XNUMX minutes all together) it was decided to have an operation to avoid damage.
I woke up in the ICU where it was very noisy , someone had been admitted after an accident that required special care , it was all hooting with him .
Fortunately, I was allowed to go to a room a day later, and it was fine, private bathroom, a sofa, TV and, above all, very spacious.
After a few days I was allowed to leave the hospital and I could regain my strength at home, so far a good experience, except for the ICU.
Then I had to come for a checkup and I was allowed to queue to have X-rays taken and then brave the queues of people who also had to be with the same specialist, such a check took about five hours thanks to the long wait, while waiting you can see lots of situations!
I was allowed to do about four checks and I got rid of it, each time it was 3000 baht for the x-ray and a few thousand more for the medicines and the visit to the doctor, in the beginning it was 7000 baht to drop because I take less medicine needed to 3700 baht
The opretion together with six days in the hospital incl. medicines cost 62500 baht, I got everything paid back from my insurance company, the Hua Hin Hospital does not work with insurance companies so you have to pay for everything yourself first.
Those long queues that I had to face were not pleasant at all , maybe next time I will choose the Bangkok hospital , and they work there with insurance companies so that they do not have to pay anything in advance .