Finding a doctor

The health system works quite differently in France, as we found out today. After waiting for ten days for the UK civil service to send me an E121 form I was now able to approach the French health service (CPAM) to register with them.

We turned up at the CPAM regional office in Caen around 10am, explained what we wanted at reception and received a number – 42 – which was called shortly after.

We were dealt with in a friendly but thorough fashion by a civil servant who spoke a little English which he used to put me at ease and spoke mainly in French with Becky.

It took a short while for us to explain why I needed to register with the French health system rather than use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – because I have a long-term health condition that requires regular assessment and treatment by a gastroenterology team.

This was all understood and accepted. We were given a form with which to register with a GP or généraliste and the details of how the payment and refund system works were explained to us.

I was then asked to return on Thursday with the completed généraliste form, my birth certificate, bank details and my E121. After this the registration process will be completed and I will be issued with a French health insurance card or Carte Vitale.

We left by 11am and after a bit of shopping, lunch and a rest, we headed out to make an appointment with a local généraliste. We asked about local doctors at a pharmacy and were directed to a practice nearby with three doctors. We were asked to wait and saw a doctor after about 20 minutes.

The doctor was fantastic and understood all about Crohn’s disease, Infliximab infusions and the need to keep an eye on my general health. He didn’t speak any English, but our communication was very clear.

I left with a repeat prescription to take to the pharmacy and a blood test form to take to the local lab. He also hand-wrote me a referral for a gastroenterologist at a local clinic and suggested we run it up to the clinic and make an appointment there and then. Doing it all by post could mean we get caught up in the August holidays when everything shuts down for a month.

We walked the 300 yards to the clinic – more of a small hospital, complete with A&E – and made an appointment with the gastroenterologist for tomorrow morning. Okay, not everything is sorted out, but I am still stunned by what we did today and how helpful and understanding everyone was.