Patong Hospital creaking under workload

As Phuket attracts many tourists, Patong Hospital was forced to expand from a 10-bed hospital to a 60-bed one, to treat the increasing number of locals and foreigners.

Taveesak said many people visiting the hospital come with high expectations of medical service. "They do not think that this is a community hospital; they think it is like a private hospital or a bigger state hospital," he said.

The hospital has been hit by lack of adequate medical workers to provide healthcare and other limitations, he said and added "That's why many medical workers in the hospital have to shoulder the workload".

Taveesak said he had tried to find solutions. He had proposed to the government to operate the hospital as a public organisation like Samut Sakorn's Banphaeo Hospital. His proposal was supported by former Public Health Minister, Dr Mongkol Na Songkla, because the hospital is located in the special area.

He said Mongkol's backing had encouraged him to develop the hospital service but it did not help in improving the hospital. He blamed official regulations and political problems for the failure.

The deputy prime minister at that time had asked the Public Health Ministry to conduct a review of the number of hospitals that should operate as public organisations but so far there had been no progress, he added.

The unsuccessful attempt to push Patong Hospital as a public organisation had affected the morale of the medical workers, he said. Taveesak had promised they could continue their studies, increase their salary, improve administration and the effectiveness of the hospital.

Two of 10 physicians resigned in August and now there are only three doctors working in the hospital and shouldering a lot of workload.

He said the rest of the physicians have to stand by for 24 hours to provide healthcare service to 420 patients per day on average, because Phuket is a tourist attraction and there are a lot of accidents in this province.

"They have to shoulder a lot of workload but their salary is still lower than private hospitals. Many of them are tempted to seek higher-paying jobs in private hospitals," he added.

To prevent doctors quitting the hospital, Taveesak has guaranteed a monthly salary for each doctor of at least Bt 80,000, while he receives only Bt 40,500.

He said he could get donations and grants from foreign organisations in the US, France, Switzerland and Germany by using his connections but he could not use this money to support the medical workers because of regulations.

"I think I would be the last one to leave this hospital. I have to work 24 hours for seven days without any rest while the senior health officer at the Public Health Ministry never knows about this situation and my colleagues never understand me. I am very pressured. That's why I have to quit," he said.

Taveesak resigned from the Public Health Ministry in August this year but his resignation was not accepted by permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot.

He said Prat wanted him to help the ministry and continue his work but he said he wanted to work for himself and his family.