Treatment of Farangs at Hua Hin Hospital

[Lost]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience, joelle. I've only ever had positive experiences with HH Hospital when I lived there. Guess it's luck of the draw. Petcharat hospital was my preferred go to, mind.

[HHTel]

I'm guessing you didn't use the 'VIP' route. I've been going there ever since the new hospital was built. I've never had to wait for an appointment. In fact the only time I've left the lounge is for an xray and your VIP note puts you to the front of the queue.

From what I gather, it's almost a second home to BB and he appears to have been treated well.

[joelle]

I'm guessing you didn't use the 'VIP' route. I've been going there ever since the new hospital was built. I've never had to wait for an appointment. In fact the only time I've left the lounge is for an xray and your VIP note puts you to the front of the queue.

From what I gather, it's almost a second home to BB and he appears to have been treated well.

I believe I did use the VIP route, which is on the 5th floor, and paid accordingly
If you know a better route please explain how to proceed

[thecolonel]

Hua Hin Hospital my 1st Experience
- went to HHH on 5th floor for a mammogram check, the lady said I had to see a doctor first and gave an appointment for the following week
- on the date of the appointment I waited over an hour for the doctor, he spoke little English, and didn't bother to examine me, consultation lasted 5 minutes. At the front desk had to pay 410 baht and was directed downstairs to get an appointment for xray and ultrasound, which I was given for the next day at 3:25pm, with a paper on which the lady wrote the cost of 3500 baht, yet it was printed 1700 baht, when I enquired she just crossed the amount saying it was wrong (I assumed it was thai price)
- so the next day I arrived at 3:15pm
after 3/4 hour wait I am called and asked to go to the 5th floor to pay. Went there and was asked to pay 4210 baht (??), I showed the paper which said 3500 baht but the lady replied that it was more because of overtime. What overtime she could not explain and said it was like that.
- so back downstairs, waited well over 1 hour before being called for the xray, after which waited another good hour for the ultrasound. The waiting was not only long (although there was only 3 persons in front of me) but unpleasant as very hot, no aircon or fans.
- had to go back to the 5th floor to get an appointment to see a doctor for the results, another 410 baht
Got there at 3:15pm out at 6:00pm!! And at the end of the day I was short of 5030 baht and spent nearly 3 hours waiting, felt frustrated and cheated. In fact not much use to have an appointment as it is 1st come 1st served.
Just wanted to share my deceitful experience, shan't bother to go there again unless I really have no other choice.

I've had similar experiences in X Ray Dept in particular but other parts of that hospital too

The level of incompetence was just staggering, and believe me I've more than adjusted for language difficulties in that assessment. Couldn't even send an e mail to an address I wrote down for them and sent them an email with it copied in to, so all they had to do was reply all. Explained multiple times. And don't get me started on their telephone skills, it would be quicker to walk to HHH to get a question answered by X Ray Dept

It's like dealing with 5 year olds with *most* of the staff there! You just have to keep asking different staff until you find one with a brain




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[Big Boy]

Yes, in my opinion it is by far the best/most honest hospital in Hua Hin - I have used them all, including operations. I will only use HHH these days, and have vowed I would only venture into the other hospitals to visit sick friends.

What I will say is my first appointment there was a similar experience, and I wasn't feeling so positive. However, when I went back for my second and subsequent appointments, the attitude changed. I agree language can be a problem with nurses, but I usually have a Thai with me. Lack of English can make some appear to be abrupt. All doctors are well versed in English.

Just wanted to share my deceitful experience, shan't bother to go there again unless I really have no other choice.

Obviously your choice, and nobody votes with their feet more than me, but we all have bad days. I would suggest they are worth a second chance.

[HHTel]

I believe I did use the VIP route, which is on the 5th floor, and paid accordingly

My apologies. You're correct in that it's on the 5th in the purple building. Seems you had a bad time. However, I'm with BB on this one and have never had cause to complain.

My mother, in her 90's has visited several times as an outpatient and twice had a stay in there for a few days. Her reaction was "Damn sight better treatment than you get back home (UK)" I always book a wheelchair from HHH when she's here on holiday at a very reasonable price.

I wonder if the pressure of covid vaccinations has anything to do with it.

As BB said, it's worth giving them a second chance.

[joelle]

Yes, in my opinion it is by far the best/most honest hospital in Hua Hin - I have used them all, including operations. I will only use HHH these days, and have vowed I would only venture into the other hospitals to visit sick friends.

What I will say is my first appointment there was a similar experience, and I wasn't feeling so positive. However, when I went back for my second and subsequent appointments, the attitude changed. I agree language can be a problem with nurses, but I usually have a Thai with me. Lack of English can make some appear to be abrupt. All doctors are well versed in English.

Just wanted to share my deceitful experience, shan't bother to go there again unless I really have no other choice.

Obviously your choice, and nobody votes with their feet more than me, but we all have bad days. I would suggest they are worth a second chance.

I actually went there because of your praises but was very disappointed and more so on the pricing which there was no reason to overcharge me !
Unlike you I don't have a thai person to accompany me, maybe that's the whole difference in the treatment I received

[hhinner]

The x-ray department has always been difficult, in my experience, once being told to go somewhere else or wait a week. Maybe too many m'bike accidents requiring x-rays?

[joelle]

The x-ray department has always been difficult, in my experience, once being told to go somewhere else or wait a week. Maybe too many m'bike accidents requiring x-rays?

There was only 3 persons in front of me !

[thecolonel]

The x-ray department has always been difficult, in my experience, once being told to go somewhere else or wait a week. Maybe too many m'bike accidents requiring x-rays?

As a matter of fact I've never seen any in there in 3 or 4 visits

More likely poor scheduling of appointments, poor management of patients, poor efficiency, and a basic lack of intelligence and common sense by the majority of support staff.

Naturally I am *only* talking about the admin/support staff who you interact with.

Yes the MRI/Xray gets done eventually and I'm inclined to believe(and hope) that the Radiologist/Radiographer know what they are doing. But as one expert explained to me, an MRI report is only as good as the Radiologist who is reading it.

In my case, I'm reassured that my reports are then sent to UK(but with extreme stress and inconvenience for no reason whatsoever by the truly incompetent admin staff!) for a second opinion.

So, I really hear you Joelle!

On the other hand I freely admit that I struggle to tolerate inefficiency and incompetency in most walks of life. And whilst I still choose to live in Thailand this is the number one drawback of this country for me and something I continue to wrestle with almost daily.

So it's kind of my own my 'fault' in a way. Currently working on trying to expect the worst in all situations and then hopefully be not too disappointed

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[hhinner]

Sounds like the x-ray department has improved then. The 3 or 4 times I've been in there (not in the last 3 years though) it's been standing room only. The last time was with my wife who was having an abdominal ultrasound and that took about 3 hours. Just unlucky I guess.

[Big Boy]

My wife had an x-ray on Thursday. It was very efficient. We sat for less than 5 minutes. She was called, handed a gown and told to get changed. Came out of the changing room, and in for the x-ray almost immediately.

I had to have an x-ray earlier this year as part of my pre-op, and it was even faster.

Neither of the above x-rays were as part of the premium service.

[hhinner]

Excellent!

[handdrummer]

The eye exam dept. is just as bad. I was sent there by Dr. Payrat for an exam. All I needed was that one exam and had to go through several unrelated procedures just to get the one exam. I waited for several hours until I was seen.

I've had blood drawn, or rather attempted to be withdrawn, and after being jabbed 4 times, unsuccessfully, in each arm, I got up and walked out.

As much as I hate paying the prices at BK hosp. at least they are competent. The nurse drew blood on the first attempt. I was in and out, including the printed results, within an hour.

Also, I find HHH to be a depressing place. But that's subjective.

[Robinhood]

I've had good experiences at HHH, both in the ordinary and 5th Floor Express clinic. Is this called the SMC?
Last Monday I decided to get a routine test requiring a blood sample and walked in without an appointment at 8.45, Sample done by 9.10 and emailed received at home about 2 hours later. About 1,500 Baht.