Queen Sirikit Hospital

[Gonzo 419]

After going to bed last night at midnight, the TGF woke me an hour later. She asked me, if I could take her to a hospital in the morning, as she was in a lot of pain and vomiting. It took about five minutes before her request sunk in. She has always been healthy and as fit as a Mallee bull, never drank alcohol or smoked.

I switched the lights on and took her temperature, which was 37.8, a bit on the high side. The pain was on the lower right side of her belly and when she wanted to vomit again, I had to get a bucket as she could hardly walk. She had a bad headache as well.
Appendicitis sprung to my mind as she had all the symptoms according to information on the Internet.

It also said to see a doctor in a hospital A.S.A.P. should the symptoms last longer than four hours. At 3AM I drove her to the emergency department at the Queen Sirikit.

There were about 20 Thai patients attended to by two doctors and about half a dozen very capable nurses. All of them spoke good or reasonably good English. One of the doctors examined the TGF and then after getting another opinion from the other doctor, he said he didn’t think it was her appendix causing trouble, but more likely a bad muscle strain, but he couldn’t be sure until he did a blood test and took an urine sample. After half an hour a nurse took me to the nearby pharmacy, where they asked if the TGF was allergic to any medicines and then collected two ampules to be injected, probably a pain killer and a penicillin based medicine.
After another half hour the results of the tests came back, confirming it wasn’t a case of appendicitis, but an injury probably sustained from exercises she did at the gymnasium we often use to keep fit.

The injections she had must have done the trick, as after spending more than two hours in the emergency department, she was back on her feet again with her usual smile.

We were then sent to the nearby cashier and pharmacy department.

I paid a total of 478 baht.
THB 48 for the two injections
THB 90 Hematology (blood test)
THB 200 after hour doctor’s fee, emergency
THB 140 for three medications to be taken at home when required for vomiting and pain.

The drive from our place in Jomtien to the Queen Sirikit Hospital was 30 KM and took about 25 minutes from door to door, driving at or below the speed limit.One can use Highway 3 all the way to the two entrances of the hospital. I normally drive approx. 15 Km from Hwy 3 Sukhumvit/ Soi Chayapruek to 332, then left where a sign says Rayong, then approx. 9 Km to 331, then turn right on 331 and drive approximately 6 Km back to Highway 3, with the main hospital entrance about 200 metres when turning left on Hwy 3 on the other side of the road. The other entrance on the road to Utapao airport is locked from midnight to 6 Am.

To get a laminated Queen Sirikit card costs 20 baht, after you show them your passport.
To see a doctor costs 200 baht for a Farang and 100 baht for a Thai.
After hours emergency is 300 baht Farang and 200 baht Thai.

One more thing. I previously thought the 1669 phone number was the Pattaya City Hospital emergency number. The same number was written on the Queen Sirikit emergency department’s door. It seems more than one Government Hospital use that number. I guess when someone rings an ambulance using that number, they will despatch an ambulance from a hospital nearest to where you live.

[yorta2 694]

Glad to hear your TGF is okay. Hope she recovers well.

[atlas2 4,329]

Yes we all appreciate Mrs Gonzo for saving your bacon.

About a week ago a mate called me to ask if I could come and help him pick up an Aussie stuck on the floor of his condo
Somehow we crossed in the lift and when I got to the Aussie's room he was alone on the floor. He'd defecated on the bed and their was shit everywhere.. After a short conversation I went back to my room and got a cotton dressing gown and then picked up the wheel chair from reception. Just after I got back to the room my mate arrived. We got him up from the floor and put the dressing gown on him and then got him into the wheel chair.
Others taxied him to Queen Sirakit. After about 4 days in the ICU we heard his bill was in the 100s of thousands. He was on life support and in a coma.
Eventually the Aussie consulate deemed to involve itself after we used the, 'you have a duty of care' threat.
As the situation stands his daughters have said the Drs can turn off life support if they think it's best.
We contacted his brother who said he had no money and couldn't help.....the daughters have washed their hands. My friend and his Thai wife that got him to Queen Sirakit and felt responsible for the bill have been told by the Hospital there will be no charge.

Credit to QS!

Edited March 23, 2015 by atlas2

[jacko 8,822]

Sad tale Atlas..... kudos for helping out.