A Serious Question

[Jon 1]

Without going into detail, which health service would you prefer to be treated by if you had a serious illness, French or British?
As this is not a hypothetical question and the answer to this is so important to me, if possible I would prefer responses from those with direct experience.

[Val_2]

French system for the immediate treatment and not being kept waiting for months for an appointment or over a week for a blood test result - next day result here in France. Also everyone I know that has had english treatment recently has come out with some sort of germ as well.

[Shane]

The french system everytime for me, clean, quick, polite, considerate, caring. Results received so quickly. Had experience of just visiting the doctor, to accident and emergency treatment and routine tests. All first class.

www.dordogne-on-line.info

[Scotjohn]

Hi

French is best by miles.

I had a problem early on in France and collapsed at home. The doctor who happens to live next door arrived in minutes, did all the relevant tests, called four times that day to ensure I was OK, arranged blood tests the next day with reults that night, arranged two different specialists within two days with results the same day and prescribed remedial treatment immediately.

Within a week I had every possible test with the reults and was on the road to recovery. Everybody had been professional,efficient, friendly, sympathetic and inexpensive.

The whole thing cost less than 200 euros and I have been reimbursed for most of that.

In Scotland I couldn't get a doctor's appointment within a week and tests took weeks if not months with results following on weeks later and we were in a quiet country area.

No comparison!

John

[Richardbk]

For speed of access to the service the french system. However for bedside manner and access to doctors/experts that do not follow convention (in all cases) the UK is probably better. I.e the very hard to find top UK experts are probably better than there franch counterparts.

regs

Richard

[Jackie]

LAST EDITED ON 09-Aug-04 AT 12:06 PM (BST)

In my experience so far as a Crohns sufferer I would say the French system. The monitoring is more frequent and the waiting time is much much less. The results of tests and analyses of bloods etc are very quick as are X-ray examinations. The generalist is more available as are the specialists, though this is not universally true for all illnesses as, for example, there are very few ophthalmologists in this area.
The examination techniques I have experienced are less painful and the attitude of consultants more friendly though I accept that does not necessarily mean the care is better. I have had experience of recent surgery and again the system worked well for me although I did have to travel some distance to see the surgeon recommended by my generalist for the operation and for post surgery follow-up examinations. The clinic used for the surgery was fine and on a par with those used by PPP or BUPA. The costs to me were minimal as most was covered by the state system and the mutuelle.
My wife had a similar experience with her surgery earlier this year. The system is however in trouble, see the recent postings about the plight of surgeons in France ("Has the bubble burst yet?"), and is like to change or is changing even as I write this. I hope we can say that it is still better in a few years time............John in 79

[Kergano]

I have found the French system excellent. I have been in hospital here five times, each time under the knife, and the professionalism and the care have been faultless. On one occasion I was referred to a specialist by my GP, seen the same day and admitted to the clinic that evening. I have a scan every six months after a cancer problem and a follow-up check with the oncologist. If I need a blood test I go to a local lab and get the result the next day. I have been in three hospitals and usually in a double room, never a communal ward. I have friends in the UK who have to wait for weeks, even months for a scan and for treatment

ian

[Jon 1]

Many thanks to you all for your responses. It is most useful to have an overview based on direct experience.
I will bear all your comments in mind in a pending decision.

[I1]

It is beginning to look like I may have a similar decision, so I have found the above comments are very helpful as well.

[opas]

I too would choose the french health over the UK system for a few personal reasons,one being that our daughter has had excellent treatment here for a lifelong syndrome she has,and that has been delivered quicker and more efficiantly than in the UK, the other reason being to agree with vals comments about coming out of UK hospitals with more germs,and strangely enough the reason I came to the computer tonight was in resonse to an article on tonights news 24 about the RMSA superbug....see new posting.

[Tourangelle]

France, without a doubt, for everything health-wise.