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21/04/2008, 10:55 Ben Joined on 21/04/2008 Posts 1 Working as a doctor in france? Hi My Husband and i are in the very early stage's of contemplating a move to France perhaps with the aim in the short term of my husband doing up a property and looking after our two young children and myself contiuing to work as a doctor.I am currently a GP partner in a very well regarded practice in berkshire but would like to be able to spend a little more time as a family and would hope to reduce my working hours if we did make a move to France perhaps working three/four days a week. If any one can give us any advice as to whether this is a realistic aim then we would be most grateful.I'm ashamed to admit that apart from learning at school many moon's ago neither of us speak french to any standard but would be intent on learning should we decide to make a move.I am aware that without speaking a high standard of french it would be impossible to work in an entirely french community but wondered whether there was a need for english speaking doctors in the areas which are more highly populated with ex pats and perhaps english speaking visitors.  Thanks      Report

21/04/2008, 12:25 Val_2 Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 3,161 Re: Working as a doctor in france? To be brutally honest I don't think it would work. From what I see on doctor's visits you would have to liase with local hospitals,clinics,specialists,local nurses and many other medical professionals as well as deal with drug company reps,receptionists and other folks involved in the running of a medical cabinet. You say areas of mass b ritish residents, but how many are regular patients and not the ocassional and those that are already here have had to register anyway with a local doctor so they would now be fairly settled. Maybe if you were exceptionally fluent in french and the medical system here it would work but it is too much of a risk to take with someone's life and medication if you are not.    Report

21/04/2008, 15:06 Lisleoise Joined on 15/12/2005 Périgord Vert (NW Dordogne) Posts 914 Re: Working as a doctor in france? A few years ago our doctor retired and was replaced by a husband/wife team (Greek/English) both British trained doctors (who have a young daughter at Maternelle).  He had reasonable French on arrival but she needed intensive language training.  They run the local cabinet and are very successful.  I have heard nothing but positive feedback from locals and other Brits. It could work for you as it has done for this couple.  I will PM you their contact details should you wigh to contact them.    Report

22/04/2008, 8:47 NormanH Joined on 10/04/2008 Posts 179 Re: Working as a doctor in france? There are even Roumanian doctors working in France now. There is a great shortage in some deep country areas, where young French Doctors don't want the extensive travelling that visiting elderly patients involves, nor the very long hours that can come from being the only Doctor with no locum available. Consequently some Maires have recruited Doctors from other countries. There would certainly be difficult tests of professional French to pass. Some Universities offer courses: for example http://medecine.u-clermont1.fr/portail/accueil_etrangers/accueil_etrangers_index.htm and here is an example of someone who has put her CV online looking for a post http://www.medecins.enligne-fr.com/mini_cv.php?code=c1187c23b939ae17    Report

22/04/2008, 10:39 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 332 Re: Working as a doctor in france? I think you will be surprised how badly paid and overworked GP's in France are, compared to the UK these days. In France GP's are very unhappy about the levels of government reimbursement and the long hours and therefore envious of the new NHS contract arrangements the UK GP's negotiated several years ago, where average salaries are now into six figures. The absolute necessity for fluency in the French language goes without saying, and I am not sure it would be practical or indeed permitted to just provide medical services to a particular ethnic section of the comunity. You might also want to check if there is a language competence test you need to take to practise medicine in France. My sister who is a GP and Mum looked into this several years ago and came to the conclusion that it was only practical if you worked for one of the few American or English speaking international private hospitals in Paris and the South of France. She stayed in the UK and works part time for a GP practise, as apparently it is now easier to work flexible hours in the UKnow that most out of hours cover is outsourced to agencies.     Report

22/04/2008, 10:46 Will Joined on 22/09/2004 Sussex & 50 (Mortainais) Posts 4,940 Re: Working as a doctor in france? Certainly in general practice in France, it's not at all uncommon for doctors to be just one person serving several communes, with no on-site support staff like receptionists, practice nurses etc, and to be on call round the clock for emergencies and home visits. Before we get the usual arguments I know that there are larger practices - it's just that what I describe is quite normal. So the chances of being able to spend more time at home or cut down on commitments don't seem to be very high in France. Maybe you could be attached to a larger clinic in a town, but that might be difficult without a track record in France.  Will intentionally blank signature http://www.vienormande.com    Report

22/04/2008, 11:52 Nickel Joined on 02/10/2007 Lot Posts 178 Re: Working as a doctor in france? The only thing I can add which may be of help is that back in the 90s I did consider working in France and was offered a post in a hospital, at a grade somewhere between SHO and clinical assistant I would imagine. If there is a speciality that particularly interests you then you may find you could get initial employment that way and during that attachment learn how the french medical system works and of course become 100% fluent ( OK 99%) in the language. and no I didn't take the post - the pay was rubbish!! so stayed in the dear NHS. It's not dark yet ......but it's getting there.    Report

22/04/2008, 12:28 NormanH Joined on 10/04/2008 Posts 179 Re: Working as a doctor in france? Of course in one sense French GPs don't get 'pay' in the sense of a regular salary. What they earn depends on how many people they see, which is why they always seem so 'caring' and say 'come back if you have the slightest doubt'    Report

22/04/2008, 15:55 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 332 Re: Working as a doctor in france? The problem is that French Doctors are unhappy with what they get for seeing each patient, as they see it as inadequate. A few years ago Doctors in the French Alps went on strike, as they said the reibursement was not covering their overheads and for a couple of days skiiers were being very careful not to have an accident!    Report

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