Once again, the prefecture of the Pyrenees-Orientales warns of the potential dangers of flu, reminding us that last year around 5 – 10 per day were infected.

The French Social Security site recommends that all French residents take a carte européenne d’assurance maladie with them when travelling to other EU countries or Switzerland. This card will ensure free or subsidized medical treatment (depending on the country visited of course) and is easy to obtain, assuming that you are already part of the great machine that is the French medical system.Resident in France?

If you are a resident of France, you should be registered with a specific doctor, a médecin traitant. If you do not have a nominated GP, you will receive less money back from the Assurance Maladie (National Health) via your care vitale.

If you need a visit from a district nurse for injections, dressing changes etc, you can look in yellow pages and pick somebody nearby – although it’s always best to get a recommendation where possible.