How's that for service

[ajm]

OH had her blood taken today as part of her treatment. The results came at 1900h. At 1902 the MT rang with his concerns about one of the readings. Glad we are on this side of the channel.

[Lori]

Excellent care. I am always grateful for that.

[Yonner]

I think it depends where you are, in both France and UK
We've had exactly the same level of service from our GP in the UK, as you describe above. I know we're in the "lucky" group.

My wife also broke her wrist here a couple of weeks ago and was operated on at a private poly clinic - selected by our small local hospital, who couldn't get a place or surgeon for her in the two more local hospitals in Auxerre and Semur. A few years ago she had the same injury on her left wist in the UK.
Its been an interesting comparison.
The level of professionalism, capability and efficiency, has been no better in the private clinic to that in the NHS hospital we used in our local town ( stoke on trent) in the UK. Our small local hospital here in France has the edge ( very slightly, to be fair) in terms of individual care and helpfulness, over both the private clinic and the NHS hospital,but that's down to its "community" vibe and the individuals involved.

[Polly]

Yes, excellent service.

We’re also very lucky with our GP practice and local hospital in Berkshire; I had a similar experience to ajm’s OH recently, although my blood test results didn’t come through until the next morning, but the GP had already sent a prescription to the pharmacy before ringing me, having made sure that they had a supply in stock.

We’ve had excellent care over the years in both the UK and France, with the absolute worst of all in France.

[basquesteve]

I cannot fault the healthcare in France It has served me well in the last 29 years many times I ended up in intensive care

[Pathca]

I have had blood taken in the UK in the morning and received a phone call later in the day to make an appointment to discuss the results

[Blaze]

The main deterioration in French health care that we've seen here over the years we've lived in France is the waiting times to see certain specialists. When we lived in the Saumur area, we were never conscious of such waiting times.

We moved to the Saint-Malo area almost 10 years ago and have noticed the lengthening of waiting times. No problem getting a dentist and MT but we have to book 2-3 months ahead for a dentist check up. Ophthalmologists and dermatologists are about 5 months wait though you can be lucky if you're prepared to travel. I book my gynae appointment for the following year when I come out from seeing her. A mammogram has to be booked about 5 months ahead. OH had a 3 month wait for an MRI after concussion but managed to get a cancellation so it was "just" a 2 month wait (fortunately all clear). Some things can be speeded up if you are prepared to pay a bit more for a Secteur 2 doctor (not reimbursed by our mutuelle). OH and I have both benefitted from this in terms of time but it meant travelling to Rennes where there are several excellent hospitals, clinics etc.

In France, it's as much a lottery as it is in the UK both with waiting times and with the care you receive. Successive governments cuts in France have ruined what was once considered one of the best health systems in the world. In spite of this being brought to light during Covid, it seems nothing has been done. The recent addition of a year's study for médecin généraliste students has not helped either.
That said, I cannot fault the care we have both received here in France (and from what I saw of the care my parents received in the UK, it was excellent).

With advancing age, we made the decision to move from our idyllic life in a rural, forested area to one where 'facilities', particularly medical, were more easily accessed and available. Whilst it is a compromise, it's a decision we have never regretted - and we have fields instead of forest around us.

[exile]

Even visiting the MT has to be planned with care here. I booked an appointment for a prescription renewal in Mid July. The first free slot was end of August! I know. There will be a holiday for the doctor in that period. But when we set up here you could get a next day appointment or maybe the day after.

There were once 7 MTs in the town. Now it is 3. So no surprise that the lead time for a standard consultation has gone out dramatically

[L Austin France]

I usually book my 3 monthly MT checkup about a month in advance via Doctolib & always have a good choice of dates & times.
I'm in a community of about 7,000 people with 2 doctors surgeries mine having 7 MTs so always possible to see one doc. even if it means paying a non MT.

[widge]

Tuesday Jane had some pains in the side of her chest and upper arm, we were sure it was just musculaire, but due to various other issues decided to try and see a doctor. We were lucky and managed to catch the doctor, he did an ecg, consulted a heart specialist, he also thought it was probably muscular, but said we should go to urgence and get a blood test done, so we drove just over an hour to a local hospital, there is a slightly closer one, but this is where her heart specialist is, if she did get admitted.

We get there about 17:30, 10 minuits later, they are doing an ecg, again they see nothing particular but decide that she should be seen by a doctor and have a blood test, unfortunately it was busy, so 22:45 she gets seen, she had been told that the blood test could take upto two hours for the result, if it was positive for markers, then they would repete the test, so she tells me I should go home, so i get home just gone midnight, sort out the cats and a few things, when i get a message saying all is ok, i have been discharged, she had checked and a ambulance taxi was going to cost, just under 300€. So back in the car to pick her up. Eventually get home about three in the morning. But couldn't sleep in as we had visitors coming the next day and a RDV for a CT.