Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals

NO DOUBT EVERY COUNTRY HAS ITS’ LITTLE NUANCES WITH PROCEDURES.  Naturally, the French are no different, and I suspect the French are quite notorious for their admin and paperwork demands.  One day I will tell you about the rather frustrating process I undertook with school registration (- which is, in fact, mostly incomplete still, I might add.)

When it comes to the field of doctors, hospitals and medicines, it is equally frustrating.  Granted, the French have possibly THE best state funded medical program (I have read that over and over again, in several articles).

Since we have moved here without a contractual departure period, (ie, we are not ex-pats) we are essentially fully fledged Frenchmen:  we pay taxes, and reap the benefits of these rather high taxes.

However, getting to this point where all I need to do when I arrive at a doctors room armed with a social security and debit card has been a pain in the ass.  Without the social security card, you are forced to take paperwork home, submit it, and eventually after 8 months, you might receive a refund (which you cannot actually tie back to any one visit in particular).  As a result, I have been rather loathe to visit a doctor unless it is really urgent.  At last, after 10 months, so many documents sent back to the group, (including one letter that stated Beth and I were not one and the same person.  Granted- I can understand why this confused the French though: Our names: Gaenor Elizabeth; Elizabeth Hope, and our DOB 25 October…well… okay! If I had known 4 years ago that we would end up having to admin in France, I would have re-thought sharing a birthday with her.  Or a name I suppose)-I have my Carte Vitale.  At last, I am embedded into the system, and refunds will occur more timeously.

But you must know, that going to see a doctor is not as easy as picking up the phone and making an appointment. 

The theory is that your first stop would be at your house doctor, for any ailment.  The 3 exceptions are

1. The Dentist

2. The Paediatrician

3. The Gynaecologist

4. Sport Doctor *

If, for example, you would like acne seen to, you would head to your House Doctor, and he would write a letter of referral to a dermatologist.  If you don’t follow this process, you will not be reimbursed the consulting fee.

Of course, even going to your house doctor does not require an appointment.  All you are required to do is ring his doorbell during consulting hours. His rooms are indicated by a brass plate on the building, with his name, phone number and consulting times. They tend to keep odd hours, naturally taking off 2 hours for lunch, but some mornings they won’t be around either. 

He will not have a receptionist.  You will wait, as per an honour system, in his waiting room, until you realise that everyone left in the consulting room arrived after you.

At which point, you have your consultation, followed by whipping out your Carte Vitale and payment fees, which he processes and prints a receipt, all the while making notes and writing med prescriptions (or referrals) if necessary.  Yes, you still DO have to pay, even if you submit the necessary Carte Vitale, but the amount will automatically be re-imbursed at some point, (without having to submit the ‘brown papers’.)

Speaking of paying, it appears that ALL House Doctors fees are 23euros.  Standard.  The Paed charges 45eu

Needless to say, I find the whole ‘going to see a doctor’ thing too stressful, and as a result I have put off all visits unless absolutely necessary.  When Beth was grumpy a few months ago, I was very happy when Anton got sick at the same time, so that he would have to take her.  However, last month when I had to register Alex at her new school, I discovered that I was missing a crucial piece of certification: a recent immunisation for her.  The school have INSISTED that I submit proof of her 6 year vaccinations, so I decided that it was time for a Paediatrician visit. 

I had to wait nearly 6 weeks for an appointment (okay- it wasn’t an emergency), and off I went this morning, on the bicycles.  I almost arrived  late, and sweaty- sadly the scent of Chanel Allure being killed by sweat odour. (I was trying to create the perception of a down to earth French mother by splashing of perfume in the middle of the day).

Happily, the next hour passed by with so much content, that I am not scared of French paediatricians any longer!

The Paed speaks English, and has visited SA, which always takes the edge off being a foreigner in France.  I explained that I was looking for a check up for Alex, and in particular, a vaccination update.  Here in France, you can’t go to a clinic for vaccinations- it has to be prescribed and administered by a doctor (although not necessarily a paed.)  I offered the doc Alex’s vaccination record; he was happy to have a look through, and I am grateful that it was as up-to-date as possible.  Of course, though, she was due to have Diptheria/Tetanus, and is required a booster MMR at some point before the end of the year.

All in, after 45 minutes, we left having achieved the following for Alex:

• A check up- height/weight/eyesight/spine curvature/heart**
• received a vaccination for DPT
• a letter to her new school of her check-up and vaccination
• a certificate stating that she has received all the necessary French vaccinations ***
• a  certificate to state she can do sport (*)
• a prescription for MMR, which I collected and can take to a house doctor before the end of the year to be administered
• a prescription for an oral Vitamin D supplement
• a prescription for uber-paracetamol (and pain/fever meds are only ever used when kiddies fever are above 39)
• been informed that Beth does not need any vaccinations until she is 6.

 

Yes, you did read correctly.  A Vitamin D supplement.  Yes, you may roll around with laughter.  Due to the ‘lack’ of sunshine in the winter months, the French (children ?) take an annual Vitamin D supplement.  So, there it is: a medical bonus to living in SA- naturally occurring Vitamin D via your baking sunshine.  Count that as one of your blessings ;-).

We wrapped up with the receptionist, and headed round to the pharmacy for the various bits he’d prescribed.  The sales lady took my Carte Vitale, inserted it into a reader, tallied up all my meds and announced the amount I had to pay.  I heard her say deux euros, but went for my debit card in my wallet…stopped, looked at her, and with surprise asked her was it really only 2 euros? 

Relax, I found a 2 euro coin and handed that over, all the while laughing at myself, and no doubt she did the same.

In all seriousness, the French have got the cheapest medicine. In SA when you hit the chemist, your credit card takes a huge whack, for pretty much anything. The only time I had equally cheap meds was17 years ago, when I had stitches put in at the Derdepoort hospital after a knife accident, and paid R5.00 for dressings and pain killers to take home.

 

Oh yes: *  For any sporting activity here, you are required to submit a certificate from the doctor that you are in good health to be able to do it- anything over a 5km walk it is necessary.  Also, for scholars who do sports lessons after school, this document is necessary.  (sport is not offered at school as it is in SA.  Any sporting is done privately, for which you pay).  The certificate is valid for one year, and often it is specific for one particular activity, although in Alex’s case, I see he’s written it to ‘omnisports’. so we can still decide what to do.  If Anton runs marathons, as well as joins a cycling club where they hit the Vosges forest every weekend, he would need 2 different certificates- one for running, one for cycling.

**  Alex has a seemingly insignificant heart murmur.  It is noticeable when she is lying down, but does not appear when she stands, with her hands above her head.  The Paed told me not to worry, but just to keep an eye on it.  OK.  If you insist.

***  Children are given their own little book when they are born, called a carnet de santé. It reads a little bit like our vaccination records, but it includes ALL other doctor visits, for coughs, or scraped knees.  I have been asked for this so often, and I feel quite useless without it.  Unfortunately the Paed won’t open a new one for the girls, but he did print a paper for me, listing, in French, that she has a topped up vaccination record.  I guess I will have to get a file for her, and make my own record.

Anyway, that’s me for today.  Trust that you are all well,

Bisous

XXX