VOLUNTEER medical personnel are taking care of mourners for free as a good deed in honour of the late King.
As a result, people mourning at Sanam Luang have access to dedicated medical services.
Staff are stationed at 12 medical units around the venue, which can perform emergency medical services and transfer acutely ill patients to nearby hospitals.
Dr Ittaporn Kanacharoen, Medical Council of Thailand deputy secretary-general and a volunteer medical unit director at Sanam Luang, said doctors, nurses and other medical personnel at the venue had come from the country’s medical schools and public and private hospitals.
He said staff were delighted to provide medical assistance for free.
“All of our medical staff here come from various organisations, but we all have a single purpose to provide healthcare for those who need assistance as a tribute to the King. Everything, from health check-ups, medicine and all treatments, are free, so everyone can access quality healthcare during the event,” Ittaporn said.
“There are volunteer medical staff from the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation, 21 medical schools across the country, the Public Health Ministry and the Private Hospital Association. Normally, we have around 10 doctors on duty everyday from 8am to 9pm and can receive up to 1,000 patients per day,” he said.
“Currently, there are around 200 to 300 people seeking medical assistance from our unit every day, most of whom are poor people from other provinces. These people cannot use their Universal Health Coverage rights in Bangkok, so our free service is very beneficial to them.”
The manager of the medical unit of volunteer doctors, Dr Jirasak Wichakkanalan from Thepparat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, said the unit could provide a normal medical check-up, basic medical treatment and an emergency service to transfer patients to nearby hospitals.
“Most people coming to us have suffered from fatigue and fainted during the long hours waiting outdoors to enter the Throne Hall or had small injuries from an accident. However, we also treated patients with serious illnesses, such as heart attacks and strokes,” Jirasak said.
He advised people who intended to go to Sanam Luang to prepare needed medicines if they had chronic diseases and to carry a note detailing their illnesses and allergies.
There are also five psychiatric units stationed at Sanam Luang to assist grief-stricken people.
Nattawat Ngamsamut, a volunteer psychiatrist from the Mental Health Department, said the department was aware of stress and depression problems among mourners, so teams of psychiatrists had been deployed to the venue since the start of the mourning period.
“Right now the situation is better and less people come to us to seek help about their mental problems. Still, many people who come to the funeral are still suffering from grief due to the King’s death and it is our job to talk to them, make them feel better and help them to live daily life normally,” Nattawat said.
He said units saw approximately 30 visitors per day, most of whom were coming to seek advice to deal with grief and stress. However, he said some people suffered from chronic mental problems and needed to seek regular treatment at a hospital.
“I am a volunteer to take care of the people’s mental health for free, the same as other medical staff here. We just want to do a good deed for the father of the nation,” he said.
“If anyone has a problem about their emotions and mental health, they can always seek advice from psychiatrist as there is nothing to be ashamed of” related to mental illness.