British-trained Chartered Physiotherapist

[debiphysio]

Hello,

I am a Cambridge-trained Chartered Physiotherapist who is in the process of having my qualifications recognised in France ( ie to become a registered 'kine') so that when we come to France to visit our home near Cognac I can treat patients - mainly to improve my french but I will be able to treat ex-pats as well. I was just wondering if forum members thought there would be much of a need for an English-speaking Physiotherapist. I would be working as a non-conventionne which would mean that the patients would not be able to claim back from the 'caisse'. In England I am the Principal Physiotherapist in a 6 physio private practice and have 20 years of experience in the private sector so am used to working independently.

Any thoughts would be welcome!

Thank you.

[Kitty]

As a pure hunch, I think that French doctors prescribe kine (physio) sessions far more than UK doctors.  In the UK with all my children, I was only once put in touch with a physiotherapist for treatment.  Since I have been in France, the doctor is always referring my children (or me) to a kine.  So you would be busy if this is a general trend.

As for English speaking?  You would need to be in an area where lots of Brits live, I assume.  Anyone who sets up a business on the basis of catering only for the British (or English speaking) community is on a sticky wicket.  Most Brits in France are quite impoverished - living off capital or living on pensions.  Very few make serious money in France.

So I would think that you need to speak French so that you can treat French clients as well.  Just my thoughts.  I would be interested to learn if  they are shared.

[cooperlola]

I'm with Cathy on this. Both doctors and surgeons have had very positive views on physio and prescribe more of it and more often than seemed to be the norm in the UK.  My mother is a retired Chartered Physio but has plenty of contacts still working in Britain and they are struck by the difference between what has been offered to me and others I know as the apparent norm here.  For instance, the centre which I attend in LM routinely admits patients who have had knee replacements for a month or so as in patients  where they get 4 hours of physio a day - all paid for by the state.  Why would anybody want to pay? 

Also, as Cathy says, if you want English patients then perhaps you need to look for somewhere with a large expat community, or - perhaps a better idea - look for a job in a French hospital, centre or practice.  There are Spanish, Brazilian and Polish phyios at my centre so clearly they do take people from abroad if you get fluent in the language.

[5-element]

[quote user="debiphysio"]

 I would be working as a non-conventionne which would mean that the patients would not be able to claim back from the 'caisse'.[/quote]

Doesn't this mean that you would be in fact, a private physiotherapist, if you are non-conventionné?

The kiné sessions I have had recently are all around 18 euros per session (which strikes me as cheap) of which I end up paying only a very small amount.

As I am just about to start another stint of physiotherapy (3 sessions per week) I cannot imagine paying for them all out of my pocket, when I can get them practically free, from a specialist kiné.

It may be that I misunderstand what is meant by non-conventionne for a physiotherapist, but if the patient is expected to pay the full whack, then it is unusual for France where patients are usually offered cheap or virtually free physio.

On a positive note, I know from a physio friend (French) that she can get work anywhere, any time, as there is such a high demand here in France, while the Sécu still hasn't seemed to cut down on this particular aspect of healthcare, and is willing to continue paying.

[cooperlola]

[quote user="5-element"].

On a positive note, I know from a physio friend (French) that she can get work anywhere, any time, as there is such a high demand here in France, while the Sécu still hasn't seemed to cut down on this particular aspect of healthcare, and is willing to continue paying.

[/quote]Yes, it does seem to be one profession where there's a big demand here.

One other thing which is not clear, is how you will work with the French gp's if you are setting up alone?  Where will you get the diagnoses from if you're not working with the doctors in France?  Like 5-E, I'm a little doubtful that you'd get many patients when referrals for paid-for treatment in parallel with that being given by doctors, sugeons and other specialists, is so readily available.

[debiphysio]

Thank you all for your replies.

I actually don't need any diagnoses as British trained physiotherapists are trained in a very different way to French kines. We are trained to diagnose and treat  as we see fit and don't need referral from GPs or their equivalent. The service I would provide would be very different to a french physio as they are trained to do mainly just exercise prescription and massage whereas we do ergonomic advice, manipulation,acupuncture and many other modalities.

I take your point about the fact that you can receive treatment free - why would you pay, but my view is that I have run a 6 physio private practice in England for the last 20 years and have had plenty of experience of patients wanting to pay for a very different service ( when they could access the NHS free if they so chose).

The reason I asked the question and was interested in people's views is that every time I go to France, which is about 8 times a year - I get asked to treat patients and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy will cover me for professional liability if I register locally as long as my stay in France is temporary.

Thank you again for your replies - I will bear it all in mind!

[GeoffatMM]

Hello debiphysio,

Are you still travelling regularly to France and offering local (Cognac) physio services.

If so is there a way to contact you for a discussion please?

Geoff

[CSV]

[quote user="GeoffatMM"]Hello debiphysio,

Are you still travelling regularly to France and offering local (Cognac) physio services.

If so is there a way to contact you for a discussion please?

Geoff[/quote]

Sorry to say that 'debiphysio' last visited the site on 19/1/2013 [:(]

[GeoffatMM]

Thanks CSV.