DOCTORS from Isarn are being sought to ease the treatment crisis at Phuket's busy public hospitals, a senior health official said today.
Patong Hospital has been relying on the help of doctors from the island's other public hospitals but all the public hospitals are hard-pressed to cope with heavy workloads, said Dr Paisan Worasatid, director of the Phuket Province Public Health Office.
News of the new plan to ''import'' five or six doctors from Isarn came as the beleagured director of Patong Hospital, Dr Thaweesak Netwong, told Phuketwan that some days, he was already being forced to work 24 hours straight.
Without doctors from other public hospitals to help, he faced the prospect of continuous work around the clock because of the pressure of patients in Patong.
Nine doctors have recently resigned at the hospital because of low pay and the pressure of work.
The standard of care and treatment at Phuket's hospitals is being closely scrutinised as patients look for medical attention at the best possible price.
A staffing crisis triggered by doctors deserting Patong Hospital has driven many sick people to Vachira Hospital in Phuket City, making conditions there even more crowded than usual.
There are also not enough doctors at the island's third public hospital, Thalang Hosptial. One doctor there has asked to resign in the face of an increasing number of patients.
Patients at all three public hospitals are facing delays for medical attention, with those at Patong Hospital among the worst hit.
Others told Phuketwan at Vachira Hospital today that it could be more than an hour or more before they received medical attention
Among a large crowd at Vachira, out patient Manrika Tira said it was her first visit. She normally used Mission Hospital but the price of medicine was lower at Vachira, although the wait was longer.
''I run a construction company and needed to get my four-month-old girl vaccinated today,'' she said. ''It seems to take a while to get the attention you need.''
Another would-be patient, Sumalee Surapiboon, told Phuketwan that the service at Vachira had improved.
Salesman Pimsak L. Rong Runchai, requiring treatment for a motorcycle accident, said he had insurance with Vachira and was using the company card for the first time.
He had heard service at Vachira was slow and there was a considerable wait, but not too long. He said the tratment during his stay in Vachira impressed him.
Meanwhile, private health care on the island appears to be flourishing.
A large expansion is taking place about a kilometre from Vachira at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where the number of beds is growing from 200 to 350 next year.
Patients were increasing at 10 percent a year, said the BHP director, Dr Kongkiat Kespechaara. He said the existing hospital was 80 percent occupied during the high season.
Surprisingly, demand for the extra beds had come from Thai patients and others in neighboring provinces who were looking for good care, he said.
Patong Hospital has been relying on the help of doctors from the island's other public hospitals but all the public hospitals are hard-pressed to cope with heavy workloads, said Dr Paisan Worasatid, director of the Phuket Province Public Health Office.
News of the new plan to ''import'' five or six doctors from Isarn came as the beleagured director of Patong Hospital, Dr Thaweesak Netwong, told Phuketwan that some days, he was already being forced to work 24 hours straight.
Without doctors from other public hospitals to help, he faced the prospect of continuous work around the clock because of the pressure of patients in Patong.
Nine doctors have recently resigned at the hospital because of low pay and the pressure of work.
The standard of care and treatment at Phuket's hospitals is being closely scrutinised as patients look for medical attention at the best possible price.
A staffing crisis triggered by doctors deserting Patong Hospital has driven many sick people to Vachira Hospital in Phuket City, making conditions there even more crowded than usual.
There are also not enough doctors at the island's third public hospital, Thalang Hosptial. One doctor there has asked to resign in the face of an increasing number of patients.
Patients at all three public hospitals are facing delays for medical attention, with those at Patong Hospital among the worst hit.
Others told Phuketwan at Vachira Hospital today that it could be more than an hour or more before they received medical attention
Among a large crowd at Vachira, out patient Manrika Tira said it was her first visit. She normally used Mission Hospital but the price of medicine was lower at Vachira, although the wait was longer.
''I run a construction company and needed to get my four-month-old girl vaccinated today,'' she said. ''It seems to take a while to get the attention you need.''
Another would-be patient, Sumalee Surapiboon, told Phuketwan that the service at Vachira had improved.
Salesman Pimsak L. Rong Runchai, requiring treatment for a motorcycle accident, said he had insurance with Vachira and was using the company card for the first time.
He had heard service at Vachira was slow and there was a considerable wait, but not too long. He said the tratment during his stay in Vachira impressed him.
Meanwhile, private health care on the island appears to be flourishing.
A large expansion is taking place about a kilometre from Vachira at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where the number of beds is growing from 200 to 350 next year.
Patients were increasing at 10 percent a year, said the BHP director, Dr Kongkiat Kespechaara. He said the existing hospital was 80 percent occupied during the high season.
Surprisingly, demand for the extra beds had come from Thai patients and others in neighboring provinces who were looking for good care, he said.
