21st Episode 'Fractured Little Piggy' in Bangkok

Oops pictures are in the wrong order for the text but you will be able to see what is what.



We watched the German Grandprix and when they were about ten laps from the end of the race Adam and I were feeling very positive about the chances of Mark Webber ending up with a ‘podium finish’. Rosalind however said “no way, his engine will blow up”.
Well it is history now that the prophet of doom was correct, and we have learned not to gainsay her. Sheila had gone to bed earlier still feeling ‘crook’ from her cough and I decided that I would also have an early night and continue reading my next book, ‘Into Thin Air’ written by Jan Krakauer, it features a description of a very ill-fated climbing season on Mt Everest.
Monday 31st July 2006
Rosalind started my morning by taping gently on our bedroom door and announcing that I had a call from Visa card I the U.S.A. Sheila’s emergency replacement card had arrived by courier yesterday, but there was not one for me. I then had to go through the process of requesting an Emergency card for myself. A process I had kicked off yesterday and they telephoned me to check via some ‘security’ questions that I was who I claimed to be and the address to which I wanted my emergency card sent. After the lady was satisfied with my identity she told me that I should get my replacement card on Tuesday afternoon. It seems to be a very efficient service and at this stage I have confidence that they will deliver.
Adam left for work and I decided to forgo breakfast and take up Rosalind’s offer to go to the local hospital and get my paw checked as my daily walks are still a bit painful and not getting much if any easier.
It was about 1230 when we arrived at the hospital, just a ten minute drive with Khun Boon Chuay. Very impressive hospital, clean, comfortable and a quick process that had me from reception, though x-ray via a very pleasant young doctor and back to accounts payable in about an hour.
The verdict was fractured fifth toe on the left foot. The treatment plan was, “don’t walk too much if it hurts a lot, and take some pain killers and calcium tablets to help the healing of the bone”. “Return in three weeks for another x-ray.”
When we returned to Rosalind in the waiting area Sheila announced, “See I told you there is nothing that can be done, it’s just broken.”
We were much relieved when it came time to pay the account and the all up cost including the calcium tablets and two x-rays, was 1,680 baht or 56 Australian dollars. We will also be able to claim that back from our travel insurance.
After we returned to the apartment we had lunch then Sheila and Rosalind went shopping to look for some replacement items that were taken in the robbery.
I have included some pictures of the plastic patient identity card I was given, the dinky little bag in which my calcium tablets were provided and the paperwork that was generated. I must say that from first hand experience I can only echo my earlier opinion that the Thai health system functions a lot better than the Australian system and serves about four times as many people. Of course I have no way of knowing, at the moment, what services would be available in rural areas where the majority of the Thai people live.

My patient identification card, dinky bag and calcium tablets.

‘He has fracture of the fifth toe of left foot’


The ‘next’ appointment and the account