27th Episode of Bangkok Days and Nights
Dinner was sliced pork with rice and green stuff the sauce with the pork was great and I must try and remember to ask Khun Noy for the recipe. Adam and Rosalind went to a member’s night at the gym and were home about 2115 so Sheila and I had an early dinner and in fact went to bed early to try and catch up on some sleep.
However ‘the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry’ and our plan for a restful night was no exception. Sheila had been suffering with gastric reflex for sometime and this was more of the same with greater intensity.
So we were still awake as breakfast time came around and I said to Adam and Rosalind that I would be taking Sheila to the hospital to see if we could get some appropriate medication. I had a quick breakfast and then went to the supermarket to get some porridge, ‘Yakult’ and bananas which Sheila had found on the ‘web’ is useful food for controlling an ulcer.
While Sheila was preparing her porridge according to magic Scots rites I telephoned the Australian Embassy to seek their assistance with calling ‘Centrelink’. The best way of describing that interaction is to provide a copy of the correspondence that it generated. And it is on the following pages.
After breakfast Khun Boon Chuay took us to the hospital and all the staff and the experience at BNH hospital made us feel a lot better and happy that Sheila was getting her drugs and starting the necessary treatment.
When we got a taxi back to the apartment Rosalind was still there and it was another fifteen or twenty minutes before she left to get her flight to Australia. Adam and Rosalind always leave things a lot finer with regard to deadline than we are happy with.
Sheila caught up on some sleep in the afternoon and I produced a letter to expresses my concerns about the service that Sheila had received from her medical practioners in Bathurst and I have attached that also as it explains better the situation. Just one of those bloody days that one encounters every so often but I don’t have the ability of the Thai to just smile and say ‘mai pen rai’.
The dogs were glad to see me though and I think it is a bit sad when the hi-light of one’s day is a bit of affection from four mongrel dogs.
Tomorrow is the dawn of another day and I expect it t be a lot better.
To Minister The Hon Alexander Downer
Dear Minister,
This morning 17th August 2006 I telephoned the Australian Embassy in Bangkok seeking some assistance.
I spoke with a Robin Hamilton and our dialogue included the following:
John Lunn said "I would appreciate your help I am trying to make contact with Centerlink in Australia but when I dial the 132717 number provided on their correspondence I get a recorded message telling me that it is not available from where I am calling. And whenever I try and make contact via the Centerlink web site I get a message telling me that I am not required to report and it will not let me leave a message."
Robin Hamilton's response "It is not up to the Australian Embassy to sort out any problems with Centrelink you need to telephone them."
John Lunn "Yes I know I am quite happy to talk with them but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand and I would appreciate your help."
Robin Hamilton "Are you destitute and are you and Australian citizen?"
John Lunn " No I am not destitute and yes I am an Australian citizen"
Robin Hamilton "It is just that I detected an accent are you sure you are an Australian citizen can I have your passport number?"
John Lunn "Yes I am sure that I am an Australian citizen and please hold on and I will get my passport number"
John Lunn "I have my passport number and it is"
Robin Hamilton " I don't need your passport number now; if you have a concern with Centrelink why don't you just go back to Australia and sort it out yourself?"
John Lunn "I would be happy to telephone Centrelink Robin but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand."
Robin Hamiliton "We have 6,000 people in Thailand on Australian pensions and it is not up to us to sort out any problems with Centrelink."
John Lunn "I would be happy to telephone Centrelink Robin but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand."
Robin Hamilton "Well it always works for me when I telephone them a number of times a day!"
John Lunn "Would you please then tell me that telephone number so that I may call them?"
Robin Hamilton "Well if you want I can try patching you through from here?
John Lunn "Yes please."
I was quickly connected to a telephone customer service officer with Centrelink who in turn quickly connected me with the International Services office at Centrelink who were at all times very courteous and efficient.
I wish that I was able to write to you saying how pleased I was with the assistance I had received from your representative Robin Hamilton.
I found his treatment of me rude and discriminating and I worry for the level of support for people who are not able to represent themselves and refuse to be stood over by a minor public servant. I am embarrassed to think of how many other people will have been treated in a like manner and now hold a very poor opinion of Australia as a consequence.
Please pass on copies of this to our Ambassador in Thailand so as the accountable person at the Thailand desk he might take the action that Australia deserves.
John Lunn
24 Freestone Way
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
Now the evidence of my other ‘whinge’ on the next page:
Mr John Lunn
24 Freestone Way
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
e-mail: lunnster@gmail.com
Dr Michael Thompson
Loxley House Family Practice
46 Keppel Street
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
Dear Dr Thompson,
As Sheila Lunn’s next of kin I am contacting you on her behalf.
Sheila had a consultation with you about 4th May 2006 complaining of ‘gastro reflux’ symptoms. It was suggested by you that as Sheila was planning to travel overseas from 6th June until 4th October 2006 it would be a good idea to have an ‘annual’ blood analysis plus two specific tests related to the symptoms she presented. These were:
-HELICOBACTER SEROLOGY
-HELICOBACTER PYLORI C14 UREA BREATH TEST
During the consultation with Sheila you also prescribed SOMAC TAB-EC 40 mg 30
Sheila was advised by you that the results of the Helicobacter tests could take ten days to ‘come through’ and that as you would be away Sheila was to contact a Dr Bourke at the Loxley House Family Practice for the results.
The Somac prescription was filled by the Westpoint pharmacy two days after Sheila’s consultation with you and she commenced taking those tablets.
The breath test and the serology analysis for the Helicobacter were performed on Sheila on 5th May 2006.
On or about 15th May Sheila telephoned Loxley House Family Practice and was connected to Dr Bourke in your absence.
Dr Bourke told Sheila that all the test results were back and “they were fine no problem nothing to be concerned about.”
We were reassured and left Australia for Thailand on 6th June nearly a month after the test were conducted. It is relevant at this stage to mention that both Sheila and I do not work and are at home most hours for most days of the week and were easily contactable up until 6th June 2006
We had also arranged for our postal mail to be forwarded to us in Thailand.
Last week we received a batch of mail in which was a prescription written by Dr Bourke and dated 11th May 2006; 4 days before Sheila had spoken with Dr Bourke and been told that there was nothing wrong.
We did not leave Australia until 6th June 2006 and at no time prior to our departure did anyone attempt to make contact with us about the necessary treatments following the adverse test results. The only contact was with Dr Bourke on 15th May when Sheila telephoned and was assured by Dr Bourke that there was nothing on the test results
Along with the prescription (on which a note has been scrawled by ‘Syd’ to the effect ‘Ring to collect’) we also received a copy of the report from Barratt & Smith Pathology advising that the test results were as follows:
551 when > 200 is a positive result on the Helicobacter breath test, result consistent with the presence of H.pylori in the stomach
290 when > 30 U/ml is a positive result on the Helicobacter blood test a positive result is supportive, but not diagnostic of, active H.pylori infection. The urea breath test is avalabale for confirmation of H.pylori colonization and for monitoring the success of eradication therapy.
I am sure that you share our concerns over the failure to inform the patient of the test results and ensure appropriate timely treatment and in fact providing incorrect advice to the effect that no treatment was required.
Sheila has been in pain and since receiving the results from Barratt & Smith and the prescription we took Sheila to a hospital in Bangkok and Sheila has commenced the appropriate drug therapy as prescribed.
However the costs of the hospital consultation and the drugs have amounted to 11,362.00 baht that is approximately $411.38 Australian.
We will not be able to claim this on our travel insurance as it was a pre-existing condition, albeit that we had not been advised of its presence.
If we had been advised by Dr Bourke on 15th May 2006 or on 11th May when the prescription was dated or in fact on any day prior to 6th June 2006 Sheila would have commenced the appropriate treatment in a timely manner and would have been able to obtain the drugs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Entitlement number 280721200C.
Sheila has experienced unnecessary pain and distress plus extra financial expenditure that was not necessary.
We would appreciate your early advice on appropriate restitution for Sheila
John Lunn
Copies of all the documentation we received are attached.
Prescription signed by Dr Bourke
Lab report from Barratt and Smith Pathology
Account/Receipt from BNH Hospital Bangkok Thailand
However ‘the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry’ and our plan for a restful night was no exception. Sheila had been suffering with gastric reflex for sometime and this was more of the same with greater intensity.
So we were still awake as breakfast time came around and I said to Adam and Rosalind that I would be taking Sheila to the hospital to see if we could get some appropriate medication. I had a quick breakfast and then went to the supermarket to get some porridge, ‘Yakult’ and bananas which Sheila had found on the ‘web’ is useful food for controlling an ulcer.
While Sheila was preparing her porridge according to magic Scots rites I telephoned the Australian Embassy to seek their assistance with calling ‘Centrelink’. The best way of describing that interaction is to provide a copy of the correspondence that it generated. And it is on the following pages.
After breakfast Khun Boon Chuay took us to the hospital and all the staff and the experience at BNH hospital made us feel a lot better and happy that Sheila was getting her drugs and starting the necessary treatment.
When we got a taxi back to the apartment Rosalind was still there and it was another fifteen or twenty minutes before she left to get her flight to Australia. Adam and Rosalind always leave things a lot finer with regard to deadline than we are happy with.
Sheila caught up on some sleep in the afternoon and I produced a letter to expresses my concerns about the service that Sheila had received from her medical practioners in Bathurst and I have attached that also as it explains better the situation. Just one of those bloody days that one encounters every so often but I don’t have the ability of the Thai to just smile and say ‘mai pen rai’.
The dogs were glad to see me though and I think it is a bit sad when the hi-light of one’s day is a bit of affection from four mongrel dogs.
Tomorrow is the dawn of another day and I expect it t be a lot better.
To Minister The Hon Alexander Downer
Dear Minister,
This morning 17th August 2006 I telephoned the Australian Embassy in Bangkok seeking some assistance.
I spoke with a Robin Hamilton and our dialogue included the following:
John Lunn said "I would appreciate your help I am trying to make contact with Centerlink in Australia but when I dial the 132717 number provided on their correspondence I get a recorded message telling me that it is not available from where I am calling. And whenever I try and make contact via the Centerlink web site I get a message telling me that I am not required to report and it will not let me leave a message."
Robin Hamilton's response "It is not up to the Australian Embassy to sort out any problems with Centrelink you need to telephone them."
John Lunn "Yes I know I am quite happy to talk with them but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand and I would appreciate your help."
Robin Hamilton "Are you destitute and are you and Australian citizen?"
John Lunn " No I am not destitute and yes I am an Australian citizen"
Robin Hamilton "It is just that I detected an accent are you sure you are an Australian citizen can I have your passport number?"
John Lunn "Yes I am sure that I am an Australian citizen and please hold on and I will get my passport number"
John Lunn "I have my passport number and it is"
Robin Hamilton " I don't need your passport number now; if you have a concern with Centrelink why don't you just go back to Australia and sort it out yourself?"
John Lunn "I would be happy to telephone Centrelink Robin but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand."
Robin Hamiliton "We have 6,000 people in Thailand on Australian pensions and it is not up to us to sort out any problems with Centrelink."
John Lunn "I would be happy to telephone Centrelink Robin but the telephone number I have will not work from Thailand."
Robin Hamilton "Well it always works for me when I telephone them a number of times a day!"
John Lunn "Would you please then tell me that telephone number so that I may call them?"
Robin Hamilton "Well if you want I can try patching you through from here?
John Lunn "Yes please."
I was quickly connected to a telephone customer service officer with Centrelink who in turn quickly connected me with the International Services office at Centrelink who were at all times very courteous and efficient.
I wish that I was able to write to you saying how pleased I was with the assistance I had received from your representative Robin Hamilton.
I found his treatment of me rude and discriminating and I worry for the level of support for people who are not able to represent themselves and refuse to be stood over by a minor public servant. I am embarrassed to think of how many other people will have been treated in a like manner and now hold a very poor opinion of Australia as a consequence.
Please pass on copies of this to our Ambassador in Thailand so as the accountable person at the Thailand desk he might take the action that Australia deserves.
John Lunn
24 Freestone Way
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
Now the evidence of my other ‘whinge’ on the next page:
Mr John Lunn
24 Freestone Way
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
e-mail: lunnster@gmail.com
Dr Michael Thompson
Loxley House Family Practice
46 Keppel Street
Bathurst
New South Wales
Australia 2795
Dear Dr Thompson,
As Sheila Lunn’s next of kin I am contacting you on her behalf.
Sheila had a consultation with you about 4th May 2006 complaining of ‘gastro reflux’ symptoms. It was suggested by you that as Sheila was planning to travel overseas from 6th June until 4th October 2006 it would be a good idea to have an ‘annual’ blood analysis plus two specific tests related to the symptoms she presented. These were:
-HELICOBACTER SEROLOGY
-HELICOBACTER PYLORI C14 UREA BREATH TEST
During the consultation with Sheila you also prescribed SOMAC TAB-EC 40 mg 30
Sheila was advised by you that the results of the Helicobacter tests could take ten days to ‘come through’ and that as you would be away Sheila was to contact a Dr Bourke at the Loxley House Family Practice for the results.
The Somac prescription was filled by the Westpoint pharmacy two days after Sheila’s consultation with you and she commenced taking those tablets.
The breath test and the serology analysis for the Helicobacter were performed on Sheila on 5th May 2006.
On or about 15th May Sheila telephoned Loxley House Family Practice and was connected to Dr Bourke in your absence.
Dr Bourke told Sheila that all the test results were back and “they were fine no problem nothing to be concerned about.”
We were reassured and left Australia for Thailand on 6th June nearly a month after the test were conducted. It is relevant at this stage to mention that both Sheila and I do not work and are at home most hours for most days of the week and were easily contactable up until 6th June 2006
We had also arranged for our postal mail to be forwarded to us in Thailand.
Last week we received a batch of mail in which was a prescription written by Dr Bourke and dated 11th May 2006; 4 days before Sheila had spoken with Dr Bourke and been told that there was nothing wrong.
We did not leave Australia until 6th June 2006 and at no time prior to our departure did anyone attempt to make contact with us about the necessary treatments following the adverse test results. The only contact was with Dr Bourke on 15th May when Sheila telephoned and was assured by Dr Bourke that there was nothing on the test results
Along with the prescription (on which a note has been scrawled by ‘Syd’ to the effect ‘Ring to collect’) we also received a copy of the report from Barratt & Smith Pathology advising that the test results were as follows:
551 when > 200 is a positive result on the Helicobacter breath test, result consistent with the presence of H.pylori in the stomach
290 when > 30 U/ml is a positive result on the Helicobacter blood test a positive result is supportive, but not diagnostic of, active H.pylori infection. The urea breath test is avalabale for confirmation of H.pylori colonization and for monitoring the success of eradication therapy.
I am sure that you share our concerns over the failure to inform the patient of the test results and ensure appropriate timely treatment and in fact providing incorrect advice to the effect that no treatment was required.
Sheila has been in pain and since receiving the results from Barratt & Smith and the prescription we took Sheila to a hospital in Bangkok and Sheila has commenced the appropriate drug therapy as prescribed.
However the costs of the hospital consultation and the drugs have amounted to 11,362.00 baht that is approximately $411.38 Australian.
We will not be able to claim this on our travel insurance as it was a pre-existing condition, albeit that we had not been advised of its presence.
If we had been advised by Dr Bourke on 15th May 2006 or on 11th May when the prescription was dated or in fact on any day prior to 6th June 2006 Sheila would have commenced the appropriate treatment in a timely manner and would have been able to obtain the drugs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Entitlement number 280721200C.
Sheila has experienced unnecessary pain and distress plus extra financial expenditure that was not necessary.
We would appreciate your early advice on appropriate restitution for Sheila
John Lunn
Copies of all the documentation we received are attached.
Prescription signed by Dr Bourke
Lab report from Barratt and Smith Pathology
Account/Receipt from BNH Hospital Bangkok Thailand
posted by John Lunn at 4:28 AM
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