A merit-making ceremony for Baan Phueng Wat Phuket was held on Aug 12 at Wat Khao Rang Samakkitham, with nine monks attending. The ceremony was presided over by Phra Udom Wachiramongkol (Wirat Atthathammo), Chief Monk of Phuket Province and Abbot of Wat Mongkol Nimit, the designated Royal Temple in Phuket.
The facility is intended to provide free accommodation for patients and relatives who need to stay in Phuket while receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Vachira Phuket Hospital Deputy Director of Administration Rawiphen Kingkaew said the project was intended to help patients who could not afford hospital room charges while recovering.
“The establishment of Baan Phueng Wat in Phuket aims to assist patients who do not have to pay for hospital room fees and who require recovery. Accommodation will be free throughout their treatment, as Vachira Hospital typically charges B1,500 to B3,500 per patient in room fees. Therefore, the construction of Baan Phueng Wat helps to eliminate these additional costs,” she said.
The abbot of Wat Khao Rang Samakkitham said the name Baan Phueng Wat, meaning ‘House of Support for the Temple’, reflects the relationship between the temple and the community.
He said the temple had traditionally served as a spiritual refuge for local people, while the new building would allow it to help ease their suffering both mentally and physically.
Orasa Tosawang, Director of Administration at Vachira Phuket Hospital, said the concept was for Vachira Phuket Hospital to ‘heal the body’, while Baan Phueng Wat would help ‘heal the mind’ by providing accommodation for patients and their families who are in need.
She added that some vulnerable patients were able to access treatment but could not afford transportation, food or accommodation.
As a result, some patients refused treatment because they wanted to ensure their families had enough money to live, she said.
Baan Phueng Wat was intended to provide another option for such patients, giving them an opportunity to receive treatment and continue living, she said.
Orasa said the project reflected the generosity of Phuket residents, with supporters donating materials and equipment ranging from solar panels and bricks to mortar and adhesive.
She stressed that even a donation of B9 could help save a life and said she intended for every baht donated to be used to help people in need.
“Every day of delay means 100 people miss out on an opportunity,” she said.
Ms Orasa said Baan Phueng Wat might not be a place for the wealthy, but was a space for people who needed an opportunity, expressing hope that it would provide a refuge and give them a chance to live their lives.
Baan Phueng Wat is open daily, with check-in from 2pm to 4:30pm and check-out from 8am to 11am. Guests must present a Thai national ID card.
Each assigned bed can accommodate one patient and up to two family members. Reservations are limited to patients with a referral letter from Vachira Phuket Hospital, with the permitted length of stay determined by the referral. Extensions cost B500 per night.
Guests must pay a B100 wristband deposit per person, with a B200 charge for lost or damaged wristbands. They must also bring their own bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels and clothing.
Guests must clean their beds and storage areas and remove all belongings before leaving. Food and snacks, as well as medication including common household medicines, are prohibited inside the building.
CCTV operates inside and around the building and accommodation areas.