The Chinese banquet service revealed they were hired to cater an event for 30 people and were unaware in advance that it was to be set up in an ICU room. They confirmed all the food was fully cooked and placed for guests to serve themselves. A staff member from the restaurant entered the ICU to set up tables and then waited downstairs.
On 24 July 2026, parents of a newborn sought help from the Paveena Foundation, alleging that a public hospital in Ang Thong province held a Chinese banquet with five tables inside the children's ICU. About five newborn babies, including the complainants' child who was only five days old with high pulmonary pressure but declared stable by doctors, were in the room. The hospital staff reportedly allowed the banquet in the sterile ICU room, with servers not wearing face masks. The following day, the couple's child died, raising suspicions about the cause of death and prompting them to seek assistance from the foundation.
Subsequently, Ang Thong Hospital held a press conference expressing condolences to the bereaved family and admitted that staff did organize a meal event inside the neonatal intensive care unit. The dining area was adjacent to the patient care area, separated only by a transparent plastic curtain. The hospital also announced the formation of a committee to investigate the matter, as previously reported.
The latest update from the banquet owner revealed the restaurant was indeed hired to cater for 30 people, being informed it was a catered event. Staff delivered food—fried fish cakes, fried chicken, stir-fried vegetables, clear soup, spicy salad—all fully cooked and prepared in advance, plus fruit, each in one large container. The food was placed for nurses to serve themselves. A restaurant staff member did enter the ICU briefly to set up tables, then came out to wait downstairs. The owner admitted someone went into the ICU to set tables but denied a full banquet took place, explaining that a true banquet would have eight dishes and continuous service. Instead, only two to three tables were set with food placed for self-service.
Normally, the hospital hosts events in open-air spaces, but this time the restaurant learned on the day itself that the setup would be inside the ICU. Nurses had prepared the space beforehand. The restaurant contacted the hospital by messaging and only learned the details on the event day. The owner admitted being shocked upon first seeing the location but proceeded after medical staff approval, believing it was permissible. The food service area was indeed near the infant who later died, separated only by plastic sheeting.
In the evening, at the Ang Thong Provincial Police Headquarters, Mrs. Paveena Hongsakul, Chairwoman of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, accompanied the grieving parents to meet Police Colonel Pakpoompipat Poolsiriphoka, Deputy Commander of Ang Thong Provincial Police and Deputy Director of the Center, to request CCTV footage from the ICU on the day of the event for fact-finding purposes.
Police Colonel Pakpoompipat stated that investigative teams from Mueang Ang Thong Police Station and Samko Police Station reviewed CCTV footage around the area, confirming images of people entering and exiting, including the deceased child's parents during the relevant times. However, they could not provide the footage directly to the victims because hospital legal advisors said the footage could only be shared with official investigators, and releasing or sharing it otherwise could violate the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
Regarding the family's claim of receiving inconsistent information about the cause of death, police advised them to file a formal complaint at Samko Police Station to proceed according to legal procedures.
The deceased's parents maintain that CCTV cameras were installed inside the children's ICU. However, police inspections found no cameras within that room. To clarify the facts, investigators accompanied the parents to point out where cameras were allegedly installed. If cameras had indeed been installed, there would likely be visible mounting points or remaining equipment.
Mrs. Paveena and reporters were not allowed to enter the hospital premises for filming because permission from the hospital was required beforehand to access the area.