In praise of my local Government Hospital.

[Thaiwrath]

After finding a sebaceous cyst on the back of my neck, some weeks back, I consulted my normal doctor at Khon Kaen Government Hospital, who gave me antibiotics to take away the infection, and referred me to a specialist in the minor surgery clinic. I went to see him, and it was decided to have it removed, and an appointment was made for this afternoon.

Arrived at the clinic, and was attended to by the receptionist. Usual, blood pressure reading, advising her of weight, height etc., notification of drug allergy, and things were in place. All the other patients, and their entourage, were all Thai, and were highly amused at my limited Thai, and the fact that I came alone to the clinic, all in good taste though.

So 30 minutes later I am on the table in the operation room, and thankfully, as I find in all the different clinics there, the level of English was of a high standard, and I was advised of the procedure, and then they commenced.

Apart from the tiny feel of the needle going in with the anesthetic, there was no pain whatsoever, and twenty minutes later the job was done. I was shown what was removed, and was surprised at how big it was, then one young lady of the team explained to me (in possibly the best English I have heard from a Thai in nearly 15 years here), that there was no need to return daily to clean the wound, but to return in a weeks time to get the stitches removed.

The total bill was 2,050 baht, which I went downstairs and paid, then returned to the clinic, to prove I had paid the bill, then I was on my way home. Excellent service, not expensive, and a credit to all involved at the hospital.

A good friend of mine had a very similar operation last week, in a private hospital in Pattaya, and his bill was 10,600 baht.