Doctors' appointments

[MAD87]

All the above underlines how lucky we are here (and in our 2 previous communes). Our (official) MT is of 4 in a commune of 2500, who looks after OH and I, my older son and his partner, and SIL and his mother (none of whom live here). The last 4 are apparently treated on the basis that they're"extended family", whereas 3 can't find their own MTs. My unofficial MT reports changes in dosages to my dr., otherwise they spend 30 mins talking about the mess the medical profession is in. That mess was forecast decades ago, but the profession itself stopped any increase in students until Hollande's(?) government stepped in. Too little, too late, and doctors currently practising are exhausted.

[Headers]

Our MT is old school. The waiting room regulates the wait. If it’s empty, you’re next. If it’s full you go away and come back if it’s not an urgent issue. He spends about 20 mins with each patient. He is retiring soon. We will be ‘in the merde’ when he goes.

[Polarengineer]

I remember that in Holland one would enter a waiting area and ask “who was last in” so that you could wait your turn. I cannot, for the life of me, remember what we were waiting for, Doctor, Dentist, bus, bank. There was no appointment that I recall.

[Blaze]

Just a reminder, if you are really worried about something, and your MT can't see you urgently, you can always ring 15 for an "avis médical". They are really helpful, particularly if you have an ongoing health problem. If they advise coming to the urgences, the paperwork will have been started before your arrival. If you have someone to drive you, that always goes down well as they'll generally only send an ambulance if it's potentially serious.

The Clinic in Saint Malo, private but takes public healthcare patients, has a non-RDV section for trauma only patients. So for example, if you fall and twist your ankle, you can go straight there without an appointment. It's worth finding out if this sort of service is available at your nearest hospital.

There's also SOS Medecins who can give you a consultation on line, or make an appointment for one. Some services will do a home visit for someone who is stuck at home.

Don't ever think that you can't use these services, or your problem isn't serious enough. That's what they're there for and it's better to be safe than sorry !!
We sometimes have the same dilemma when we have a patient we're unsure about in our first aid post : Having done as many checks as we can, if there isn't a doctor present, we ring 15 who've always been brilliant.

[demi]

Very useful information, Blaze. Thank you.