MTs disappearing fast

[rabbit]

That’s worrying especially in an area like Brive

[Lori]

That’s worrying especially in an area like Brive

No kidding. We are shocked that we cannot find basic medical care in the region.

[Mangetout]

That's very worrying for you. I wish you well in finding what you need.

[Blaze]

It was having breast cancer that made me aware of my own mortality, and it brought home the importance of the availability of good medical care. We decided to downsize and as we both missed the sea, I did some research on this area before deciding to move here. There was no problem signing on at the medical cabinet in the village and the facilities in the area, including Rennes, are superb.

[exile]

Who would have thought that in France, the availability of an MT would be part of choosing where to live.

I must confess that when we moved here there were 8 or so MTs and that is now down to 5 but AFAIK they are all taking new patients. A crazy situation that there are none in a place the size of Brive.

[demi]

I am just so lucky that the MT who my family here use made an exception to take me on. I was also lucky with a dentist as I cracked a tooth last January & my daghter-in-law's dentist saw me as an emergency & has taken me on.
Phew!

[Blaze]

Who would have thought that in France, the availability of an MT would be part of choosing where to live.

It's grim isn't it, but that's partly an age thing - it didn't come into question when we first came here, it wasn't important! We were fortunate finding a good dentist here (one of the receptionists is a friend of ours ....) as apparently it's getting much more difficult to be accepted in Saint Malo. Having there are communes in this secteur that have been advertising for MTs for 2 or 3 years.

Sadly France is now suffering from government decisions made 15 to 20 years ago. The cuts are affecting everyone, medical personnel and patients.

[Chappers51]

When I first arrived here there were 2 MTs, one retired and a younger man came in. The other a slightly older female was also a national equestrian and spoke excellent English so she drew in patients from near and far.

At first I was with the man, but later moved to the female, she was very good, but last year she decided to leave and take a part time post working with a relatively local home for the elderly. She was almost 60, but with family in Japan and elsewhere she chose to finish.

Fortunately a locum was found for 3 days a week, she is now permanent but works 4 days and the wife of our male doctor has come in to work 3 days. I understand they are training up the receptionist to support them and we have 5 nurses working out of the surgery.

We are very lucky to have such good service, I see my MT regularly every 3 months and she makes my next appointment on Doctolib before I leave.

[Lori]

We did do a good bit of research on the health facilities in and around Brive. There is one main public hospital and two private ones. There are more than 80 doctors in the area (many MT's). There are several smaller, more rural clinics, etc. What we failed to do was call them to see if they were taking new patients. That was a fatal error on our part. We never dreamed that a community with that many doctors would all have their doors shut to new patients.

We managed to find an MT who accepted us based on where our new house is located - 20 minutes from him. By the time I called him, I had called more than 40 MT's. No idea what he will be like and I find it sad to think that you can no longer hold 'competence' in high regard. You have to simply settle for whatever you can get and hope you don't die from the situation.

I now have a broken crown (as of yesterday) - now what kind of bad luck timing is that !!!! My own dentist here in the Vaucluse could not see me until next week. As of Saturday 2 dec. we will be in Terrasson Lavilledieu. They put me on their cancellation list but don't give that much hope. I called 8 others in this region - none would take a new patient. I've sent off an email to the Urgence Dentaire organization for the Vaucluse. I don't give that much hope either. I really was hoping someone could just have a look at it as I know I can't begin the repair treatment here as there won't be enough time... ...

I continued calling Dentists in the Brive region. I finally found one that could see me on 8 dec. I just hope I can wait that long without further problems. I really didn't need this at this very very busy time...

Sad state of affairs..

[exile]

What a palaver @Lori . At least you now have an MT. Good luck with the dentist though.