It all started with a cough in Hong Kong. The coughing improved and was nearly unnoticeable in Taipei. After a few days in Jeju EW was struck down with a cold and a light fever. The Hyatt Regency staff was great and gave us Tylenol and recommended to drink hot tea. Unfortunately the situation didn't improve, so I went to the local health care center and described the symptoms to the doctor there. He gave me tablets against the pain and the fever free of charge. I was very grateful and hadn't expected the gesture at all. For a short time the medicine seemed to work. Still EW was hampered at the Park Hyatt in Seoul and the sickness broke out fully at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Good timing, because it was EW's birthday, too. During the night he developed a cough. It didn't stop and caused him to vomit, which gave me a great deal of concern, because I feared he had bird flu or something else serious. When I alerted the hotel staff they were worried about EW's condition, too, sent up free tea and when I asked them, if they could send us a doctor, they advised they could do that, but it would cost at least 400.000 South Korean Won (KRW), around 260 Euro or 380 USD and if we would prefer to take a taxi to the nearest hospital. It would cost less. I told them, I would discuss it with my fiancé and come back to them. EW decided he was fit enough for a taxi ride. A taxi was already waiting as well as the manager on duty, Mr. Lee. He gave us his business card and wrote his personal cell phone number on it, in case we needed help. We appreciated it and felt well taken care of.
The taxi ride was quick. Having experience with A&E in Dublin's Mater Hospital we expected a huge queue and a long waiting time. Instead we were ushered to the reception area, where we had to fill out a form. It was in Korean and English, so we had no problems. Next we were asked to take a seat. There were no other people waiting. It took only a few minutes, before a young female doctor arrived. She asked about symptoms and made some checks. We were then invited to the open plan emergency room. There were maybe twenty beds and definitely made for the average Korean person. When EW was asked to lie down, his feet were hanging over. It was just right for two other people waiting, an old lady, where we didn't know, what the problem was and an older gentleman. He had abdominal pain and was accompanied by his wife. Later another younger Korean man in a suit joined us. He seemed to have fever and maybe was in pain, too.
Again we didn't have to wait long. The blood pressure was taken and the temperature measured. It was slightly higher than usual, but no fever, which was positive. Soon the doctor returned and said, she thought it was a throat infection and if we wanted further tests or simply a prescription. EW wanted to be on the safe side and decided to go for a thorough check up. He had to give a urine sample. Later blood was taken. Normally it's a difficult and painful process for him. In this case the nurse gave my better half an injection on the hip against the pain. To our amusement he asked, when she would start. It had already happened, and he hadn't felt a thing. Very funny. To take the blood the nurse boxed really hard against EW's hand a couple of times and found promptly a vein, which normally is problematic with my better half. After waiting some more time EW was given an x-ray scan. EW told me that the man working in the department was interesting. When the scan was successfully taken he said: "Success, guys and dolls!" Or something along the line.
We were told to go to the emergency room again, where we were waiting for all of the test results to come in. It took a little bit longer, but we were relaxed and EW seemed to feel better. The doctor arrived and told us everything was okay, beside the inflammation of the throat. She gave us a prescription and released EW. We went to the reception again, where I paid the bill for the visit by credit card. It came to 260.000 KRW or ca. 170 Euros/245 USD. The bill included already the prescription. We were advised where we could find the pharmacy of the hospital and received EW's pills there. The pharmacist's English wasn't that good, but with body language and talking we got there, how EW had to take the medicine.
Back at reception we asked, if the receptionist could call us a taxi, which wasn't a problem at all. When we left, the doctor and the nurse, who had treated EW, came out to say good bye. We were very happy about the services and friendliness received and thought the money had been well spent. The whole procedure took around 2 hours. Comparing that against twelve hours waiting at the Mater Hospital, being treated like second class citizens, even though we had to pay for the treatment, and encountered absolutely insensitive and rude staff, the visit to the University Hospital in Seoul was a breeze. EW complained that none of the pills did work. EW's body is probably used to stronger medicine. It seems South Koreans normally receive a lower dosage. The doctor in Jeju told me, that EW had to take two pills, because that would be what a normal prescription in Western countries contains.
Of course EW recovered, but it was a long way thanks to a general weak immune system.
©2011
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