A desperate fundraising effort is underway to send Dean Penson, a 41 year old British tourist, home. He reportedly finds himself stuck in a challenging situation at Vachira Phuket Hospital. His situation, and the alleged “harrowing” conditions at the island’s largest public hospital, were reported by the Daily Mail in the UK.
Stricken with a suspected case of leukaemia, Dean faces not only a life-threatening diagnosis but also appears to be “grappling” with “dire conditions” at the government-run hospital.
Dean doesn’t have any health or travel insurance and his friends have set up a Go Fund Me page.
Dean fell ill a few weeks ago during a routine holiday to the island, prompting his friends to rush him to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he has since been as doctors diagnose and attempt to treat his illness – mostly blood transfusions, according to the article.
The hospital’s conditions were described in the article as “horrific”, with reports of blood on the floor, needles scattered around the rooms, and distressing scenes of people dying in close proximity to the patients.
Dean’s best friend, Ben Page, who has been with him throughout this ordeal, reveals the grim reality of the hospital in graphic details, along with photos provided to the Daily Mail.
“It’s pretty horrendous, the conditions are so bad. There’s blood everywhere, there’s needles everywhere. It feels like the ‘Third World’.”
To secure Dean’s return to the UK and cover the mounting medical expenses, friends aim to raise approximately £9,750. Ben Page sheds light on the urgency.
“It’s been horrible seeing him like this.”
The hospital bills and the cost of the flight back home are estimated to reach nearly £10,000.
Dean, originally from Southend-on-Sea, had embarked on a trip to Phuket with friends on November 6. Lacking travel insurance, Dean’s deteriorating health revealed an alarming low blood count, leading to a series of transfusions and suspicions of leukaemia.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to aid Dean’s cause, garnering over £3,000 of the £9,750 goal. The clock is ticking as friends and well-wishers join forces to bring Dean home and provide the medical care he desperately needs.
Phuket-GO doubts many of the claims made in the article and theorises ‘exaggeration’ to help secure the funds for Dean’s hospital expenses and repatriation. What are your thoughts about the story and the claims made?
