top of page
Search
  • Writer's picturechris walsh

Being ill in France as opposed to the UK

Unfortunately we have all had rather a rough time health wise and since Christmas my borderline asthma is now chronic, which got so bad I had to go into A & E for the day for 4 hours of cortisone drip and an hour of air being pumped through a mask.

So what is better and worse between French health care and UK?

Better, * able to see my doctor in person usually on same day and max 2 days

* easy referral to specialist consultants but now taking longer, urologist 2 weeks, lung doctor 3 weeks, dermatologist 5 weeks. Hospitals still functioning despite massive COVID rise in cases ( around 300,000 + each day over last few days)

* great use and reference to kine-therapists - one brilliant therapist sorted out my arthritis of the jaw over a month of massage

A& E waiting time 5 minutes, triage then straight to hospital bed, all tests done including X ray, sent home after 6 hours

Testing is easy, ( and not just for COVID) though you have to que but get test within 1- 2 days and results by email later in the evening

Worse - the costs. * NHS Free to all and long may it continue

France when resident or have permit Carte Vitale covers 75% of costs or 100% in some cases ( cancer related for example) .Rest can be covered by medical assurance - which is regulated, I bought high level of cover as had possibility of a lot of treatment last year for 86 euros per month ( = £870 a year). A good buy compared to US or UK private insurance but still £870 more than UK.

*Glasses ( 2 pairs) 600 euros (with 220 back from insurance) same as in UK unless like me you used Specsavers for about £200.

*Dental treatment free after insurance cover but pay additional for major work while UK standard prices if on NHS

* Its hard for people not in employment or not French residents / permits to get proper cover while NHS FREE FOR ALL ( unless foreigner without residency) I think now

The same- wonderful, hard working, friendly, professional, supportive staff in UK and France, though I think this is true g for public health care workers globally


8 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

at last after all our work the media have been contacting me and Wise Age to get an expert opinion on what older people need to return to work. As we have been repeating the problem is not early retir

It was my birthday earlier this month but I did not get round to on line celebrations. I do find that still I have not been able to settle in to a daily routine of blogging and prefer instead to respo

As someone who have been active in age related politics, fighting for a better deal for older working age people (50+), for age friendly cities and environments and trying to challenge ageist myths in

bottom of page