News Forum - Holiday nightmare: British citizen stranded in Thai hospital with a 400,000 baht plea to escape

[Thaiger]

A British citizen‘s tropical holiday in Thailand has turned into a desperate battle for survival, as he faces suspected leukaemia in dire hospital conditions. With blood-soaked beds and a looming 10,000 pounds (446,000 baht) bill, Dean Penson’s ordeal has become a nightmare that his friends are determined to end. Penson, a British citizen from Southend-on-Sea, … …

The story Holiday nightmare: British citizen stranded in Thai hospital with a 400,000 baht plea to escape as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Ramanathan.P]

You have the money to come all the way to Thailand to enjoy everything. But you don't have the money to buy insurance coverage? Now you have to face the consequences. Do not complain. You asked for it.

[Tippaporn]

In describing the third world hospital conditions:

. . . There’s no toilet roll, you just wash with a hose.”

Obviously a first timer to Thailand.  Using a toilet roll is third world to my way of thinking.  

 

[Grumpish]

31 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

In describing the third world hospital conditions:

. . . There’s no toilet roll, you just wash with a hose.”

Obviously a first timer to Thailand.  Using a toilet roll is third world to my way of thinking.  

 

Bum washers rule - I even eventually got round to installing one at home here in the UK. 

[Lowseasonlover]

50 minutes ago, Ramanathan.P said:

You have the money to come all the way to Thailand to enjoy everything. But you don't have the money to buy insurance coverage? Now you have to face the consequences. Do not complain. You asked for it.

He needed his money for beer and pussy, 

[Tippaporn]

15 minutes ago, Grumpish said:

Bum washers rule - I even eventually got round to installing one at home here in the UK. 

Were I to ever live in the west again, which isn't gonna happen, I would most definitely do the same.  I used to hate resorting to TP whenever I had to return.  So crude and primitive.

[Pinetree]

Here we are yet again; Crowd Funding to cover up the man's foolishness.  When will people learn.  If he had declared an existing knee condition, it is only that conditions that is excluded, and sometimes not even then.  For those considering a holiday here, have at least 500,000 Baht in ready bank cash available for emergencies,  or for goodness sake get insurance.  And if you do get insurance, and do not have a valid motorbike license, your insurance will not cover you if you have an accident.  None of this should need saying, but stories like this keep on being reported.  

[WilliamG]

I never knew that Leukemia, or any cancer, suddenly creeps up on you.

[Uptown]

I wonder how much his bill would have been at a private Phuket hospital?  They do supply toilet paper in the fancy hospitals.  That would have impressed his friends.

[Pinetree]

4 minutes ago, Uptown said:

I wonder how much his bill would have been at a private Phuket hospital?  They do supply toilet paper in the fancy hospitals.  That would have impressed his friends.

If he does have leukemia, which seems odd as something that appears as an immediate issue, then his costs will keep ramping up, probably exponentially. It's not something that is going to be cleared up in a day or two. 

[ChrisS]

Yet another muppet who decided to travel with no insurance and expects others to bail him out.

[Vigo]

Overall, a very sad situation. His case could be managed and put into remission with treatment through NHS. Thailand is not the place to be if you have cancer.

The  travel insurance may not have  covered pre-existing conditions but it would have covered his med evac and emergency care on a new  diagnosis.  

[oldschooler]

6 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

In describing the third world hospital conditions:

. . . There’s no toilet roll, you just wash with a hose.”

Obviously a first timer to Thailand.  Using a toilet roll is third world to my way of thinking.  

 

Hose better than Paper. Shower better than Hose.

[oldschooler]

47 minutes ago, Vigo said:

Overall, a very sad situation. His case could be managed and put into remission with treatment through NHS. Thailand is not the place to be if you have cancer.

The  travel insurance may not have  covered pre-existing conditions but it would have covered his med evac and emergency care on a new  diagnosis.  

Yes Indeed. My UK Admiral 12 month multi- trip Travel Insurance with best terms cost GBP 120. 50 quid for a youngster.No Possible Excuse. I’ve also just Cancelled my UK Only BUPA Medical Policy.For Impossible Claim Demands and somehow taking more than the contractual monthly premium.
Had Excellent NHS Treatment. Have a Personal Accident Policy for Thailand. 

[oldschooler]

5 hours ago, WilliamG said:

I never knew that Leukemia, or any cancer, suddenly creeps up on you.

Surely should have crawled onto the first direct flight back home to NHS… how can that disease suddenly lay you out ?

[oldschooler]

5 hours ago, Pinetree said:

Here we are yet again; Crowd Funding to cover up the man's foolishness.  When will people learn.  If he had declared an existing knee condition, it is only that conditions that is excluded, and sometimes not even then.  For those considering a holiday here, have at least 500,000 Baht in ready bank cash available for emergencies,  or for goodness sake get insurance.  And if you do get insurance, and do not have a valid motorbike license, your insurance will not cover you if you have an accident.  None of this should need saying, but stories like this keep on being reported.  

UK Travel Insurance universally covers only 50cc bikes. So know to hire only those.

Have a simple Thai Personal Accident Policy (to 300k / adequate for leg- arm breaks/ private hospital ) for basic motorbike ( any cc) mishaps. Tourists wouldn’t know any of that of course. Inadequate for Broken Spine / Skull/ ICU/ Coma though……….

[rattlesnake]

7 hours ago, WilliamG said:

I never knew that Leukemia, or any cancer, suddenly creeps up on you.

It never used to. But we have entered the age of turbocancer. Baffling.

[Guest1]

10 hours ago, Thaiger said:

the British citizen’s dire situation is compounded by the absence of travel insurance,

I am sorry, but: Somnamna!

[Guest1]

8 hours ago, Grumpish said:

Bum washers rule - I even eventually got round to installing one at home here in the UK. 

Really? Tap water with 10 to max. 20 degrees in summer?

I have my doubts, that people really using it!

In Thailand, the water comes out with 25+degrees! ALL year ;-)

[Guest1]

7 hours ago, Uptown said:

I wonder how much his bill would have been at a private Phuket hospital?  They do supply toilet paper in the fancy hospitals.  That would have impressed his friends.

Not that high! Private hospitals ask upfront for a down payment.

And if that is gone, ask again or taxi you to Vachira or one of the other, nearest, gov. hospitals Hospital

[Guest1]

2 hours ago, oldschooler said:

My UK Admiral 12 month multi- trip Travel Insurance with best terms cost GBP 120. 50 quid for a youngster.

So you are flying every month back to uk?

"Cover for 12 months on an unlimited number of trips lasting up to 31 days each"

[Guest1]

7 hours ago, WilliamG said:

I never knew that Leukemia, or any cancer, suddenly creeps up on you.

There are two kinds of leukemia.

One that is slowly , another one, that can hit you in days. And even blood tests don`t tell you, before it hits.

From this side no complain, can happen to everyone. 

But no travel insurance is dumb, imho!

But I am certain, there are enough people willing to help, with the crowd funding!

[Guest1]

26 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

It never used to. But we have entered the age of turbocancer. Baffling.

It can, 

"Acute leukemia may cause signs and symptoms that are similar to the flu. They come on suddenly within days or weeks. Chronic leukemia often causes only a few symptoms or none at all. Signs and symptoms usually develop gradually."

[Lowseasonlover]

If he came here for a holiday surely he must have a return ticket? he should have jumped on the first plane home, knowing he didn't have money for hospital treatment here, 

[TedG]

This is why I buy travel insurance within 15 days of buying an airline ticket.