San paulo Hospital

[The understudy]

I had my own expirience to tell of San Paolo as I was a regular visitor there during my wild University years. Them Nurses from the ER know me allready when I get rushed in it by my friends! (I don't know if that#s the case know.) I personally like it there I as Thgerooms where claen the food was good and the medical staff well.... qualified. My complaints is about the pricings which is in my opinion to High and they won't let you get out until til the bill is paid.... If I had any chance I would prefer Petcharath in Petchburi more in hope that they charge cheaper than San Paolo.

your's The understudy!!!

[Big Boy]

I can't understand the comments I'm seeing regarding cost. I assume it is expensive compared with something else in Thailand.

I have had occassion to visit San Paulo on 2 seperate occassions. The first time it was free, the second time, which included 5 subsequent visits to have my wound re-dressed cost me a total of 1,300 Baht.

On both occassions, my injuries were minor, but the treatment was first class. Compared with visiting A&E in Bristol, it was first class and extremely fast - no complaints.

[lomuamart]

If you're just going for wound dressing, then SP is cheap. More expensive than the Red Cross, but cheaper than HH Polyclinic. All aren't much anyway.
If you're admitted, things get pricey. It's happened to me twice, once some 7 years ago and my bill was 9,600 for 3 days (pretty good) and once last year when a 10 day stay cost over 100k.
It's really only over the past few years that prices have skyrocketed.

[Guess]

San Paulo is to Hospitals as the Hilton is to Hotels.

Only to be used in a dire emergency.

As for an earlier post about holding on to your passport. That is illegal. The only people that have a right to hold your passport any where in the world are the offical (either immigratioin or police and yourself.)

If that happend to me I would go to the Embassy in Bangkok get a replacement and then tell San Paulo to stuff their bill up ther colonic irragtion exhaust pipe.

Of course action like this is much easier if you are a visitor than a permanent resident.

[lomuamart]

San Paulo is to Hospitals as the Hilton is to Hotels.

Only to be used in a dire emergency.

As for an earlier post about holding on to your passport. That is illegal. The only people that have a right to hold your passport any where in the world are the offical (either immigratioin or police and yourself.)

If that happend to me I would go to the Embassy in Bangkok get a replacement and then tell San Paulo to stuff their bill up ther colonic irragtion exhaust pipe.

Of course action like this is much easier if you are a visitor than a permanent resident.

Just to split hairs, but I think that you'll all find that your passport is ultimately the property of your government.
The police, immigration etc have no right to "detain" your passport. It should be returned to the relevant Embassy/consulate ASAP.
Or yourself, as Guess said.

[Guess]

Yes lomu I believe you are spot on. When I wrote hold I meant phsically hold for the purpose of viewing and maybe even getting it photocopied. The right to retain is only for the owner of the passport which is the issuing governtment as you correctly point out.

This by the way is also tru of plastic. Any, credit, ATM or charge card is the property of the issuing bank. You may possess it and use it as per your contract with the issuing bank. The merchant can withhold the card only on instructions fro the issuing bank or it's agents (VISA, Master Card, JCB and AMEX). This would applly even if you cardname is is Cynthia Wilkins and you are a six foot four rugby playing tatooed giant.

[Big Boy]

lomuamart wrote:

some 7 years ago and my bill was 9,600 for 3 days (pretty good) and once last year when a 10 day stay cost over 100k.

And for that money, I would guess you were seen immediately, given the personal touch regarding treatment, and stayed in a private room more akin to a 3* hotel. I know when I checked my daughter in to have a baby, I was amazed at the colour TV (with satelite), guest beds and mini bar.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, I pay an average of 14200Baht per month in National Insurance, it takes approximately 3 hours (on average) to get seen at A&E, and if there's something serious wrong there will be a waiting list of at least 6 months.

It still doesn't sound that expensive to me, but I have to assume you are saying that it is expensive compared with similar facilities elsewhere in Thailand.

[PeteC]

My motorbike friend did 24 hours in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and it cost him 18,000. The room was 2,700, food per day an extra 600 and I think 300 for nurse "attendance". The rest was ER and a load of x-rays and bandages and physician time in the ER when he arrived. Also, IV and meds.

Meds will kill you now here. Before reasonable, NO MORE. My little 10 month old needed antibiotic eyebrops for a case of pink eye, cost 800 baht. The secret is if you need a refill, take the vial to the local pharmacy and you can get it for about 1/3 the hospital cost. Pete

[Jankou]

2,5 half days in San paolo + shoulder operation 70 000 THB( one screw)... and 3 days inside because food poison 18 000 THB. And my operation in San paolo failed, now doctors have to fix my shoulder again here in my home country.

And allways problems with incurance and language. Sometimes they speak english but if you believe that they have made mistake with bill they just be stupid looking like they don't understand nothing what you are saying...

[Wanderlust]

Big Boy,
To directly answer what you are saying, yes, definitely in comparison to other Thai hospitals San Paulo is expensive, but that is not the only thing wrong with it apparently (I have no personal experience other than a teeth x-ray!). Most people i have spoken to about hospitals have warned me off SP, firstly because of standard of treatment (not facilities or room standard) and secondly because of cost. Everyone says that the one in Petchaburi is much better in every respect. Many have also recommended the army hospital in Pranburi. The only time I have had to stay in hospital overnight ever was about 3 years ago when I had a motorbike accident as a passenger on a taxi bike, and I was taken to the Hua Hin hospital by a very kind passing motorist as it was the nearest and I must have looked in a bad way. All the treatment, stitches, drugs, food and a 2 night stay (in a ward at my request) plus out patient care cost anout 3000 baht. And they were very good and helpful, despite being obviously very busy. That hospital is now getting a major improvement and is set to be a centre of excellence apparently - whether it's prices will change who knows?

[Onlyme]

I took my friend to see an ENT specialist at Petcherat hospital in Petchaburi about 8 months ago. He had been suffering with severe throat problems for a couple of months. The "specialist" thought there was a hair lodged in his throat (dread to think what she thought he'd been up to?) This could be the cause of his problems.
Long story short...He's just finished a course of radiotherapy for cancer in the UK.
I could give you other cases of friends visiting certain hospitals, doctors here in Cha-am and Huahin.
If I, for one minute thought there was something serious, I'd be on the next plane home.

[duan]

I have had only two experiences with SP both for minor matters but each time the pills they gave me did the trick. On the negative side I was encouraged to come back for a follow up appointment when not necessary.