Private Doctor / GP Clinic?

[EssexAl]

Hi Everyone, I know there is a thread about this already but from what I can gather it is dated 2017 so I was just wondering whether anyone has any recent recommendations for a decent GP / Doctor clinic in Korat? I need to get an ear infection looked at and not sure of the process. Is it like the UK where one would go to one's registered GP first before hospital (except for A&E). Or is it best just to rock up at a hospital?

In either case, any good recommendations would be most welcome.

Cheers - Allan

[Roger]

Hi Al. I'm guessing there was a lot of golf being played yesterday - but I'll try to answer and maybe someone can add to it. The short answer is - 'rock up at the hospital' - as you say. Just sign up at BKK (or St Mary's is also very good IMO). Ask for the ENT department this time and you'll be seen quickly in most cases, both Hospitals have English speakers. I'd guess a first visit with pills should cost less than B2000.

I think most Falang don't go to the 'Clinics' as such but some are very good and not expensive - if you find a local Clinic it may be worth a try another time.

If you need more of the 'pills', you'll save a lot by going to, say, Siam Pharmacy - the Hospitals are expensive in comparison.

GWS 

[rdrokit]

Most clinics don't open till 5 or later as a lot of the doctors in the clinics practice at hospitals during the day. I have been using St. Marys Hospital for the past 13 years and always receive good service.

[EssexAl]

Thanks for that, guys. My wife has just reminded me that this happened once before whilst in Thailand and we used some "over the counter" drops, very similar to drops that I've previously used back in the UK - and to good effect! I'll be giving that a go first because if I can avoid doctors / hospitals and antibiotics etc then so much the better. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence with a history of inner / middle ear infection and a mastoidectomy so it's highly unlikely that my travel insurance would cough up for any claim. If the drops don't fix it I will try St Mary's so thanks for the recommendation.

[rdrokit]

Thanks for that, guys. My wife has just reminded me that this happened once before whilst in Thailand and we used some "over the counter" drops, very similar to drops that I've previously used back in the UK - and to good effect! I'll be giving that a go first because if I can avoid doctors / hospitals and antibiotics etc then so much the better. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence with a history of inner / middle ear infection and a mastoidectomy so it's highly unlikely that my travel insurance would cough up for any claim. If the drops don't fix it I will try St Mary's so thanks for the recommendation.

Don't wait to long. Remember out patient medical treatment is quite cheap here. I think the doctor check up at St. Marys is 200 baht plus meds.

[EssexAl]

By way of an update - the missus wasn't having any luck getting those drops over the counter so we decided to try the local (Non Sung) clinic early morning on the basis if we couldn't get in I could then go into town and either St Mary's or Bangkok Hospitals. We managed to get me registered and I saw the bloke who is apparently some sort of bigwig at Non Sung hospital doing his early morning clinic. I ended up with drops for the ear, pills for the infection plus painkiller tablets. Trouble was, they also took my blood pressure which I knew would be high so I've also got some pills for that!!! They do like a tablet / pill over here, don't they? The consultation plus meds came out to 390 B so I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. Now all I have to do is wait and see if they do the job!!

[rdrokit]

Glad you got to see a doc at the clinic. If you have high blood pressure i would suggest getting a blood pressure monitor so you can check your blood pressure, High blood pressure is a death sentence if not controlled. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure since I got out of the Army at age 24. I have been taking pills to control my pressure and check my pressure monthly as some pills work some do not. Some have side effects and some do not. You can also build up an immunity to the pills.