Struggling to find a medical professional?
Can’t find a doctor or a dentist because no one seems to be taking on new patients?
Visit www.ameli.fr/pyrenees orientales, use the search box to search for’ mission accompagnement santé’, and enter your details. A personal advisor will call you back and offer to help and accompany you in your search, and also help you to clarify any confusion with your rights, sort out any problems, organise help if you have transport problems….
You may be lucky enough to come across someone who speaks English, but it’s not guaranteed.
Tele-consultations
More and more doctors, despite much initial resistance, are turning to télé consultation to help out patients who can’t travel or have mobility issues. This may be the way forward for some people who are just looking for advice. Defined a Doctor Who might be willing to consult via the Internet, visit DOCTOLIB to check availability.
Still can’t find a doctor?
Dial 15 for the SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente)
This should be your first port of call before going to A&E.
If you find yourself faced with a medical emergency in France, you will need to call SAMU on 15.
SAMU is the French hospital based emergency medical service, providing round-the-clock phone support as well as swift and appropriate emergency call out. Dial 15 at any time if an emergency medical situation arises. They will: –
☛ Give medical advice over the phone
☛ Send ambulances where appropriate
☛ Send a GP to your home
☛ Send a mobile resuscitation unit in an absolute emergency
☛ Manage a large scale crisis
Don’t hesitate to call the 15 for advice, even if it’s not a traditional emergency. They will tell you what to do next, and contact the relevant services if transport is needed etc
SOS Médecins
For less urgent medical problems, call SOS Médecins on 08 20 20 41 42 (Perpignan) or 36 24 to access the same service elsewhere in France. They provide a private doctor call-out service, a 24/7 ambulance service and they also have a clinic at 163 rue du Clos Banet in Perpignan (near the CAF). You will need to make an appointment but they can usually see you pretty fast. Visits are reimbursed by the Social Security as long as you are eligible.