Big Boy wrote:OK, I've got nothing to compare the cost with, so I'll have to leave it to one of the locals to agree/disagree with the value for money aspect. However, as an outsider living in the UK, I'd not consider £6 too excessive to avoid a trip to Bangkok.
Why are there people that always feel the need to convert everything to another currency (in this case pounds), when there is a discussion about the cost of something in Thailand. We are living in Thailand and the currency here is baht. Would you convert the price of something back to Thai baht if you were paying for something in the UK? One reason that a lot of people choose to live here is the obstensibly lower cost of living.
And if one is working here they are usually earning baht.
I think its no biggie, to relate to pounds or other currencies.
I've lived in Asia for nearly 20yrs now, and I view the value of the pound and the baht, very differently. So it allows me to look at issues with a different viewpoint, when changing currencies.
Big Boy currently resides in UK, so to him it makes sense. I'm British, so I can relate to it too. I work for A Japanese Company, so the Yen is significant to me too, however, I operate in a Global economy, so the Dollar has great significance, as do the currencies of our neighbouring countries, which I visit frequently
I've lived and worked in Thailand for 12yrs now, and know of many living here, that do not earn, exclusively, Thai Baht
Dr Mike, Just a short grumble (not a rant) and please feel free to pass it on to your administration.
Went with the Mrs last week, walk in, no appointment took 1.1/2 hours to see Doc (GP intern), no real grumble as it was a walk in.
BUT, went yesterday for 11.30 follow up appointment. Arrived 15 minuets early to do standard blood pressure etc with nurses. Sat patiently and asked how long at 13.30, we were told still 2 people in front of us, finally got to see Doc at 13.45 the Doc wanted a chest x-ray (5 min) and it was another 40 minuets after, the Mrs saw the Doc again and got the all clear.
11.15 to 14.35 to be told no problem!!, When politely asked why, all the nurse manager could say is that "we are very busy". I'm sure that walk ins were seen before us, is there an appointment system or do we just get stacked in order of appearance? Surely if you have a morning appointment you should not still be sat there half way through the afternoon? The seats in out patients are just too uncomfortable for this length of time. Definate rant.
She has a follow up in 3 months, should we keep the appointment or just wander in at a time that suits us and hope for the best?
As we were leaving a Brit was at the nurses station asking to see a Doc about a minor ailment and he only had 15 minuets to spare, we both laughed.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
As much as I like this hospital, it has succumbed to the desease of all such facilities; too many patients, too little staff. Given that, it wouldn't hurt now to point out to Dr. Mike that there is definitely a long wait lately, so I'll join you in your "rant", although I wouldn't call it that just yet.
Let's see what Dr. Mike has to say before we get too lathered up.
As I said it was only a grumble and the only rant was about the comfort of the seats.
Plenty of staff running around with papers, maybe needs some more doctors?
Chas
Ooops, my bad. While we're at it though, those are the worst seats ever. My wife hates them. If you look around there are a few pillows and one of them makes it much more comfortable.
T.I.G.R. wrote:Ooops, my bad. While we're at it though, those are the worst seats ever. My wife hates them. If you look around there are a few pillows and one of them makes it much more comfortable.
However, it cannot be expected to change any time soon, as it seems it is more important to put some huge eyesore phallic symbol out the front of the building, than consider the comfort of the paying customers.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
OMG...........Those ARE the very same seats. I do appreciate your description better than mine though.
Thanks for pointing me to that page though , because as I'm sitting at my computer with nothing to do this afternoon I found the rest of the page, both before and after your post, quite amusing. Y'all are probably going to hate me for this but I can't help but to chuckle at what some of us thing of as an aggravation and what others (me) don't even notice.
I've noticed the same little tiny parking spaces, the long walk to the reception area when one is slightly less than mobile, and the strange bills that charge for this and that but never quite in the same format or the same amount.
Here's where I get off the bus though: All of those complaints and short comings are a perfect example of what is right and wrong with Thailand. Gee whiz, you guys have been here long enough to know all that and still would rather spend your valuable time bitching about pretty much Everything! Hey, I'm 67 too, and if I had as many complaints as y'all do I'd sure as heck find somewhere else to live.
The furniture is easy to complain about and rightly so. But the rest of it is pretty lame. Every Thai medical facility has a pharmacy; where I come from that would be called a nice benefit so you don't have to trudge to a separate facility. Especially if you don't feel very well in the first place.
Secondly, unlike the U.S. at least, they are happy to take back unused medicines and give you a refund or credit.
The parking spaces are designed for little cars.....so we all drive SUV's.....ummmm, they aren't going to fit anywhere else either so what's the big deal.
I'd be happier than a dog in you-know-what to pay twenty dollars for an xray, or ten dollars for some medicine, or between fifteen and seventy dollars for a doctor visit.......you get the idea. Why don't you try getting a bill for less than two HUNDRED bucks for just getting signed in where you came from.
The last bill I got in the states for a two minute procedure on just One of my neck bones was thirteen thousand dollars..............cash please!
Last but not least, I personally am hugely offended by your desire to see something other than the beautiful, slim, and professional care providers I've found all over Thailand. By God, when I kick the bucket the only thing I want to see is a a few pretty little Thai ladys hovering over my corpse.
My first visit and l was well pleased with the service and care offered.
My previous hospital experiences recently (the last 6 weeks) have been with the Hua Hin International Polyclinic and Bumrungrad in Bangkok.
I checked in for a 11.00am appointment at 10.30am today.
Temperature, blood pressure, weight checks first.
A short wait, about 10 minutes and then into see the Doctor.
He spoke perfect English and showed great knowledge about my type of cancer, understanding and that vital reassurance he can cure me.
He did a body check and l was out in 50 minutes.
I needed to know costs (l have no insurance) and when payment was needed and how soon the surgery could be scheduled, how many days in the hospital and when l could go home, what happens after that.
This took sometime but l was OK as it was important to me to know before the surgery.
With all the information now gathered l paid my bill and left the hospital at 12.15.
The costs at BH H-H are likely to be more than B60, 000. lower than what l was quoted by Bumrungrad Hospital Bangkok for a very similar operation.
And Bumrungrad had still to cost in 3 items!!
Here are some basic prices that may interest some folks.
OPD Nursing Charge.
H-H International Polyclinic.B 120.
B H H-H. B 150.
Bumrungrad. B 210.
Physicians/ Doctors fee.
H-H International Polyclinic. B 600.
B H H-H. B 750.
Bumrungrad. B 3,500.
Do not get me wrong all the hospitals offer good care, H-H International Polyclinic has limited facilities especially for my type of problem.
Bumrungrad Hospital is a +5* hospital and you pay for that.
Hello Dr Mike,
My apologies if this question was asked earlier, I might have missed in in reading the the postings.
We will be in Hua Hin in December and January and my husband has recently been put on Warferin and will need regular (weekly) INR readings to monitor the dose.
Can this be done in the new hospital or indeed anywhere else in Hua Hin?
sonmic wrote:Hello Dr Mike,
My apologies if this question was asked earlier, I might have missed in in reading the the postings.
We will be in Hua Hin in December and January and my husband has recently been put on Warferin and will need regular (weekly) INR readings to monitor the dose.
Can this be done in the new hospital or indeed anywhere else in Hua Hin?
This test can be done at Hua Hin Lab. Cost Baht 400. PM or email me for directions. bapakdon@gmail.com
