Medical records

[Rob G]

We're moving from the UK to Normandy in a couple of months. We, and more importantly our kids, obviously have medical records held by our family doctor in the UK. Does anyone know what (if anything) we need to do about having our medical records available in France? (E.g. do we need to get them translated? Do we just ask our GP for copies of records to take with us?)

Thanks,

Rob

[Will]

The way that the system of doctors and records has traditionally operated in France is totally different from the British system, though recent changes are bringing it more in line.

You can certainly get copies of British records from your regular doctor, though many will charge for this. Whether or not your French doctor is interested in your old records will vary. The validity and usefulness of past medical history is something that has been debated here in the past.

Some doctors will find previous records useful, others prefer to start new records from scratch (the requirement to record your medical history is soon to come into force in France, it hasn't existed previously). Many medical terms are common to both languages, and doctors will probably have medical reference books and/or speak some English, so you are not likely to need to get things translated.

[Tony F Dordogne]

We are going through the process of getting our medical records at the moment.

You now cannot get them through your UK GP.  They are the property of the appropraite Health Authority/Primary Healthcare Trust and as such, you have to get the records from them.

Tell your GP that you are moving.  Then write to the PHT and tell them that you want your records.

They will send you a form to fill in together with an invoice for between £30 and £50 per person.

As for whether they are useful or not, our French GP borrowed what we already had and copied the lot.  My haematalogue was certainly interested, copied the lot and gave me back the copies, keeping the originals.

Despite the horror stories about GPs/Specialists not speaking olr understanding English, all the people we have seen were willing to let us try our French and only spoke to us in English when I was really stuck, except the specialist who speaks perfect English.

None needed any translations though obviously we may have just struck lucky.

 

[Ron Avery]

As Will has indicated there has been a lot of discussion about medical records on here>  It is only recently that French GPs have started to compile records on the people now registered with them.  The records commence on 1 July 2005 and are NOT retrospective.  So ask yourself this question, is my French GP going to be interested in my medical history from when I was born as he has nobody else's, answer is probably NO. There are those who think he is really going to be interested in their ingrowing toenails when they were four, but realistically he is only interested in what is wrong with you NOW.

Ask yourself if there is anything that he NEEDS to know about me that will be REALLY crucial to my medical treatment.  Allergies, serious health problems etc, if there is, then tell him about these. 

[Rob G]

Thanks for your replies. I think you've convinced us that we don't need to take copies our records with us. (Certainly not at £30-£50 per person!)

However, one question remains. We've read that schools will ask for confirmation of vaccinations. We have 2 kids aged 7 and 10. Do we need to get hold of something for this?

While we're at it, is there any other documentation we'll need to take (health-related or otherwise) when we go to the Mairie to ask about registering the kids for school?

Thanks,

Rob