Buriram Expats

Buriram Province - General Category => Health, Body and Medicine => Topic started by: Mod on October 18, 2012, 08:55:36 AM

Title: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Mod on October 18, 2012, 08:55:36 AM
Need the O group of blood in a hurry

Some one sent us e-mail.
There is some Farang got an accident and now he is in coma and need blood (O group) in a hurry

Contact : Ple  0806393618
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 18, 2012, 09:39:38 AM
Need the O group of blood in a hurry

Some one sent us e-mail.
There is some Farang got an accident and now he is in coma and need blood (O group) in a hurry

Contact : Ple  0806393618

URGENT UPDATE.....Lad's name is Mark and he is from Prakhon Chai area. He is in the Buriram Government Hospital. My wife is just speaking to his wife ( APPLE  0806393618) -- they need blood group O+ VERY URGENT
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 18, 2012, 09:41:03 AM
Need the O group of blood in a hurry

Some one sent us e-mail.
There is some Farang got an accident and now he is in coma and need blood (O group) in a hurry

Contact : Ple  0806393618

URGENT UPDATE.....Lad's name is Mark and he is from Prakhon Chai area. He is in the Buriram Government Hospital. My wife is just speaking to his wife ( APPLE  0806393618) -- they need blood group O+ VERY URGENT

UPDATE -- they have used 5 bags of blood from their blood bank already, situation stable ( if that's possible ) but they need more
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: CO-CO on October 18, 2012, 11:00:07 AM
Just for the record, for those who are interested, this is Australian Mark from Together Bar in Prakhonchai.

Had a motorcy accident on his way back from Lahansai a few nights ago. His wife's name is "Bun".

I will ask Steven at Coffee Corner if he will put a notice up about the request for blood.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 18, 2012, 12:46:33 PM
Just for the record, for those who are interested, this is Australian Mark from Together Bar in Prakhonchai.

Had a motorcy accident on his way back from Lahansai a few nights ago. His wife's name is "Bun".

I will ask Steven at Coffee Corner if he will put a notice up about the request for blood.

To avoid any confusion, we say " Apple " but the Thai's for some reason say " A Bun "
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 19, 2012, 11:11:35 AM
Just to update everyone on Mark. Ron and his wife are currently at the hospital in Buriram waiting to see mark's wife/girlfriend Apple/A Bun. For the record, it is now 11:00 am on friday the 19th of October.

The medical team have said that there is now NO urgent need for blood as they do not envisage giving Mark a/another blood transfusion. Of course, that does not mean there is never any need for blood or donors -- please see my suggestion which I will open up in another topic in a minute.

Any further news will be posted as soon as I get it.

Mick.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 19, 2012, 06:44:15 PM
Does anyone know Mark well enough to know if he has any family in Australia or elsewhere who should be informed of his situation ? His wife/girlfriend should know this but maybe at the moment this isn't at the forefront of her mind. I don't mind contacting them if someone has any details.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 21, 2012, 10:14:52 AM
Update re: Mark. PLEASE NOTE THE COMMENTS WRITTEN HERE ARE THOSE RECEIVED FROM HIS WIFE APPLE ( A BUN ). We've just got off the phone from Mark's wife. She has told us the following ( and again, these are HER comments ).

1. Mark is still in a semi-conscious state. He cannot talk. His only way of ' communication ' is by the squeezing of a finger.

2. The doctors have asked her for signed authority to perform a minor operation whereby the can introduce a pipe into his throat to help clear fluids. They have given her 24 hours to decide if she will let them proceed. She even asked us if this was a good idea. We, like Apple, are not medical experts so have to believe the doctors would only ask to do this surgery if they thought it necessary.

3. Although Apple says Mark's family have been notified of his condition, she has not heard back from them as to whether they are making the journey.

4. The Australian Embassy have been in touch with Apple, but they say that because Mark has lived in Thailand for over 3 years, they are unable to help .

5. Apple says a semi - sober friend of Mark has been in touch with her saying that she is not doing her best for him, and that she should move him to a ' better ' hospital. This ' friend ' should be advised that the medical experts say that at the moment, it is not possible to move Mark anywhere. Any move could be fatal.

Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Somnat on October 21, 2012, 11:30:38 AM
Great to see you are taking an interest in this situation Mick.

Anything that anybody does to assist a fellow "fa-rang" when in need is to be commended.

I hope that #4 above (Australian Embassy unable to help ....) is NOT true and maybe something lost in translation.

I have never heard of a time limit being placed on a citizen from ANY country living in another country when their Embassy stops assistance !!!

I will definitely be asking about the above on my next trip to Bangkok.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 21, 2012, 01:55:14 PM
Great to see you are taking an interest in this situation Mick.

Anything that anybody does to assist a fellow "fa-rang" when in need is to be commended.

I hope that #4 above (Australian Embassy unable to help ....) is NOT true and maybe something lost in translation.

I have never heard of a time limit being placed on a citizen from ANY country living in another country when their Embassy stops assistance !!!

I will definitely be asking about the above on my next trip to Bangkok.

I do not know of limitations regarding help from an Embassy, and as you say, I too hope something is lost in the translation. However, I will mention the recent case of ' someone ' from our region who needed surgery for a leg/hip problem. Although he is British, he lived and worked in Australia for I believe, about 20 years. I am told he was refused help in Australia, and ended up with initially part of his thigh bone being removed at Buriram hospital thereby rendering wheelchair bound. After a couple of months with obviously no use of his leg, he had part of it amputated. I am open to correction, but I also hear that if you have lived out of Britain for a specific amount of time, you could be refused treatment by the NHS.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Alan on October 21, 2012, 02:26:47 PM
I think we are all taking an interest in Mark's situation Somnat and hoping the best for him.
Mick, Is there anything that can be done to really help such as speaking to family members or Aussi Consulate on behalf of Apple or the doctors if translation is unclear (Most of the update is very unclear). Or releaving Apple for a while and taking her some refreshments etc.
With regard to moving hospitals I feel this should only be discussed by those closely connected.

Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Alan on October 21, 2012, 02:36:11 PM
Regarding the NHS. If you have lived outside of Britain for three months you are supposed to notify the NHS. However when you visit the hospital they ask if you have lived outside the UK for the past 18 months. No proof is required or asked for and in an emergency situation you will get the best possible care without any question.
Currently foriegn nationals are treated 100% in emergency situations and payment is asked for on departure but not enforced.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Starman on October 21, 2012, 02:49:08 PM
The school where my wife works have a blood donor day about 3 times a term. I will let every one know the dates when I know them.

The school is a large secondary school just outside of Buriram on the Nang Rong road. A big bus comes from Buriram Hospital with all of the nurses, doctors and equipment.

Surely they must go to other schools. Maybe worth a word with large schools near you. Maybe the largest school in each district.
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: Nobby on October 21, 2012, 04:03:56 PM
Regarding the NHS. If you have lived outside of Britain for three months you are supposed to notify the NHS. However when you visit the hospital they ask if you have lived outside the UK for the past 18 months. No proof is required or asked for and in an emergency situation you will get the best possible care without any question.
Currently foriegn nationals are treated 100% in emergency situations and payment is asked for on departure but not enforced.


As a holder of a British passport if you return and say that you intend to stay on a permanant basis, all NHS facilities are then open to you, as are appropriate benifits.

 
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: John the Traveller on October 21, 2012, 05:02:57 PM
I am currently searching the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade here in Australia in the hope of finding an answer to point 4. If necessary I will call Consular Assistance and ask for verbal advice.

My understanding is that even if you have ticked the "never to return to Australia" box on the Immigration departure form you remain a citizen of Australia up until  you take on the citizenship of another country.

All of you who have been involved in rallying to Mark's aid are to be commended!

JT  sawadi
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: John the Traveller on October 21, 2012, 05:47:36 PM
I have accessed DFAT's database and have found Part 2 Consular services: Welfare of Australians overseas.

If Mark has a current Australian Passport then my reading of the advice is that he can access Consular services as he is still an Australian citizen.

Below are contact details :-

"The Consular Services Section is open from 0830-1600 hours Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Appointments are not required.

If you would like to speak with a consular officer please call the Embassy on
02 344 6300 during business hours and follow the prompts to be connected to Consular Services. We may not be able to answer your call immediately as we also assist clients at our counter, and outside the Embassy, but please leave a message for us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Alternatively, e-mail us at consular.bangkok@dfat.gov.au

If the Embassy is closed and you need emergency consular assistance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra is there to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact the CEC by calling the Embassy switchboard 02-3446300 and follow the prompts for emergency consular assistance. Alternatively, contact the CEC directly by dialling +61 2 62613305 (international call charges apply). The CEC is also an advisory line for concerned family members in Australia and can be called on 1300 555 135 (for the cost of a local call within Australia)"

Finnomick it appears any one can contact the Consul regardless of standing or nationality. What they can do and is relevant to Mark's case is set out below.

"• provide advice and support in the case of an accident, serious illness or death, or if an Australian is a victim of a serious crime, and arrange for next-of-kin to be informed (if they wish) "

I will keep an eye on this topic and will be happy to assist in any way. Which includes rattling Canberra's cage if necessary. Something I have done before on behalf of another board member.

It's great to see Falang "taking care" of Falang.

Cheers,
JT  sawadi
 


Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 21, 2012, 07:01:41 PM
I think we are all taking an interest in Mark's situation Somnat and hoping the best for him.
Mick, Is there anything that can be done to really help such as speaking to family members or Aussi Consulate on behalf of Apple or the doctors if translation is unclear (Most of the update is very unclear). Or releaving Apple for a while and taking her some refreshments etc.
With regard to moving hospitals I feel this should only be discussed by those closely connected.



Alan, all the information given is from Apple, these are her words as given to my wife who has an excellent knowledge of English so very little information if any would be translated wrongly. If I am missing something regarding the clarity of my update, please tell me what is unclear.
Apple said that ' she has no-one to talk to about Mark and his situation ' so for instance, she mentioned the signed authority matter. I agree with you that just about all matters should be for the family to decide, but when the family member, in this case Apple, is being put into the situation of deciding what actions the medical team should take which could have a serious outcome regarding Mark, it's not surprising she is seeking advice from those around her and those who are helping her. I feel the medical team should be advising her what is best to do, but that's my opinion.
I have appealled on this forum for friends of Mark to do what they can as regards contacting the family etc. Someone wrote on the shoutbox that a friend of Mark who is normally resident in Pattaya will have contacted the family on her behalf. As Apple mentioned today, she is still waiting to hear from them. Did Mark's friend actually manage to make contact ?
It was also mentioned on this forum that someone had contacted the Australian Embassy. I don't know who contacted them or when. I don't know Mark or Apple, all I know is that someone wrote that they have a bar in P. Chai. I don't even know the details of the accident. That's not important to me, helping to the best of my ability is my sole motivating force however great or small this may be.
Apple has been to Ban Kruat today to see about insurance, and also to the hospital there which is where Mark was taken when found by the police. We have not heard from her since this morning even though we invited her to our house which she would pass on her way back to P. Chai. We don't like to call her too much because we don't want to bother her if she is at Mark's bedside.
I know Ron and his wife have been to the hospital in Buriram and spoken to Apple. Maybe there are some BE members who live in Buriram who can call in to see her and, as you write, take her some refreshments etc., and give her some encouragement. And of course, someone to chat too to relieve some of the stress she must be feeling.
If Apple calls us tomorrow and asks for anything, I will put a post on the forum if we cannot assist her. It's hard not knowing them because we just don't know who they know and what, if anything, is being done by others at this time. Nobody else has posted any information so we are completely in the dark so-to-speak but this will not stop me from assisting to the best of my ability. 
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 21, 2012, 07:05:31 PM
JT., thanks for the information. I think it will be a good idea for my wife to ring Apple in the morning and get Mark's surname and hopefully his passport number. I'll then call them to see why they haven't responded in an appropriate manner ( my opinion ).
Title: Re: Need the O group of blood in a hurry
Post by: finnomick on October 22, 2012, 06:01:27 PM
Latest update on Mark.
Although Mark is still only semi-conscious, he is showing increased signs of awareness. He has responded more positively to Apple, and when his friend ( whose name I think is also Mark ) visited him from Pattaya, he moved his head in recognition to his voice.
I have had a long conversation with someone who is very close to Mark and Apple this afternoon. He is holding the fort in P. Chai. He is in daily contact with Mark's family in Australia so they are aware of all news.
The Australian Embassy was contacted, but the only help they could offer was to contact Mark's family which as just stated, has already been done. I am not Australian so I cannot comment on whether they could or should do more. A point JT that you may be more aware of due to your previous dealings.
If any clarification is necessary, please ask and if anyone has any thoughts on areas where we may have missed something, again, please post on the forum.