Help! I Need to Find a Doctor!
- Bernie
- Apr 7
- 10 min read
Updated: May 6
If you're thinking of moving to Annecy or if you have recently arrived with family members who have a pre-determined health condition, finding a General Practitioner (médecin généraliste), paediatrician (pédiatre) or other medical specialist may be a priority for you. While this might seem like quite a simple task, it can in fact be quite tricky especially if you're new to the area. Furthermore, while France's healthcare system is renowned for its efficiency, certain regional challenges may also impact your search. Whatever your situation, if you're interested in learning about how to crack this proverbial nut, read on as Simply Annecy gathers together local facts and provides tips to help you find the medical professional that you need.
If your new to the French healthcare system, I suggest you gain an under-standing of how things work before you arrive, as this will save you time and maybe even money later on. Expatica for example provides a comprehensive guide.
Availability of Medical Professionals in Annecy
As of 2024, Annecy is home to 208 general practitioners (GPs). With a population of approximately 130,000, this equates to about 1.6 GPs per 1,000 residents. Believe it or not but this ratio is relatively favourable compared to some other regions in France where shortages are more pronounced. However, it's important to note that while the number of GPs is substantial, registering with one and securing timely appointments can still be challenging due to high demand. (Source: Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre).
Challenges in Finding a Doctor in Annecy
France has been experiencing a shortage of medical professionals in certain areas, often referred to as "medical deserts." Although Annecy is not classified as one, the nationwide strain on healthcare resources can have local implications. Factors contributing to these challenges include large numbers of doctors retiring, an ageing population requiring more medical care and a historical limitation on the number of medical graduates, which has led to fewer doctors setting up practice. (The Times: Latest news & breaking headlines).
Annecy has the additional challenge of keeping medical practitioners because of it's proximity to Geneva where doctors and other medical staff can earn much more than in France. I did some research into this but it was difficult to get exact figures because salaries vary depending on whether the GP is employed or working independently and whether they are junior or more advanced in their career. As a rough estimate, a GP in France can earn between €6,000 - €10,000 p/m depending on experience whilst in Geneva it's €9,500 - €30,000 p/m!
Now that you know a bit about the situation in Annecy, let's look at what you can do to find the practitioner that you need.
Strategies for Finding Healthcare Providers in Annecy
Register with a General Practitioner or Médecin Généraliste. This may sound obvious but it's important to know that in France, it's advisable to register with a primary care physician (médecin généraliste or médecin traitant) not just because this doctor coordinates your healthcare and referrals to specialists but also because he/she ensures better reimbursement rates from the French healthcare system. But how do I go about finding a doctor in Annecy I hear you ask? The most simplistic method is to Google a list of practitioners in your area and call them one by one to check for availability.
N.B. Practitioners may state online that they aren't accepting new patients and in my experience, not many receptionists speak English so if your French is a bit rusty, I suggest you drop in and ask directly. This can be arduous but the French prefer personal contact and are more likely to accommodate you if you speak to them face-to-face. When my family and I arrived in Annecy, we knocked on quite a few doors until we stumbled on a then, newly opened practice. In our broken French we asked the GP if we could register with her, she accepted and 8 years on we're still with her.
Utilise Online Platforms
Websites like Doctolib became the go-to portal during Covid and it continues to be extremely popular. It provides you with a list of GP's and specialists in your area, you can view their availability and schedule appointments online. If you are seeing a specialist for the first time and you have a doctors referral, you will be asked to send this together with any other relevant scans or test results before the appointment. This can all be done through Doctolib. It also allows you to message your practitioner and your practitioner can message you with your bill, updated prescription etc.
Explore Public and Private Healthcare Facilities
Annecy's hospital is the Centre Hospitalier Annecy Genevois (CHANGE), which offers a wide range of medical services and has a significant number of medical professionals. Additionally, there are private clinics and practices that might have shorter waiting times for certain specialties. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Parts of Annecy's hospital have been renovated and extended in the last couple of years. SOS Médecin is a clinic in Annecy Le Vieux for when you're unable to get an appointment with your GP or when you don't have a GP but need to see someone. Consultations by appointment can be made by calling 3624 or directly at https://annecy.rdvasos.fr
Depending on the reason for the call, you will be offered an in-office consultation, a home visit or telephone advice.
Weekday opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Evening opening hours: 8 p.m. to midnight.
Weekend opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 9am to midnight.
Clinic Général - as the name suggests, this is a general clinic offering a variety of medical and paramedical services including an emergency service 24/7. It's situated in Annecy, a few steps from the Château.
Main access to the clinic is on the right. According to their website, children can be treated here too. I can only assume they have changed their policy because a few years ago my son became very ill but I wasn't keen on taking him to the hospital (post Covid times) so I called the 3624 number. They advised me to take him to this clinic. When we got there they said they couldn't treat him and that we had to take him to the main hospital. The result was a very stressful drive and a speeding ticket, grrr!
Seek Recommendations from Local Communities
Engaging with local expat groups, both online and offline, can provide insights and personal recommendations for healthcare providers which you otherwise might not know about.
Once you have a GP, if they are on Doctolib, you can check his/her availability. Our GP offers appointments either face-to-face or online (a positive fall-out from covid). The cost of seeing a GP is now €30 and if you have a Carte Vitale i.e. you are registered with the government for health care, 70% is paid by the government. If you arrange a video consultation, you pay the fee at the time of booking. If you miss the call, you won't be reimbursed.
A Personal Note To All Mums With Children
During one of our first appointments with our GP, she asked me for the name of my son's paediatrician. I don't know if things have changed since I left the UK but when my son was young, the only time he saw a paediatrician was when he was born or during medical check-ups and vaccinations but even then, it was never the same person and I wouldn't know them by name. Here in France, I am happy to say that it is very different. You can register your child with a paediatrician who then follow's your child's growth and well-being until they turn 18 years of age. In our case, the paediatrician helped refer our son to a specialist in Grenoble. Without this intervention, our son would have been very ill indeed!
Tip! Once you're registered with the French health system and have your Carte Vitale, I recommend you ask for a Carnet de Santé or Personal Health Booklet for each child i.e. under 18 years of age. I received a similar booklet from the UK at the birth of my son (in English) and I'm sure you'll have an equivalent in your home country.
In France, when you take your child to a medical appointment or when you register them in school, you will be asked for this book or for particular information from it e.g. vaccination history. It makes things easier later on if you start recording everything in the French book from day one! You can request this book from the maternal and child protection service (PMI) in Annecy who will send it directly to your GP. In our case, it took a couple of months and quite a bit of chasing before receiving it. Tip! Finding a paediatrician is just as hard as finding a GP if not harder, so as soon as you have proof of address, I suggest you visit those closest to you by simply asking if you can register your child/children with them. For this you will need a copy of your child's up to date medical records, in particular their vaccinations, your proof of address and proof of ID.
Other Specialists
If you want to see a specialist i.e. a cardiologist (cardiologue), a dermatologist (dermatologue), gynacologist (gynécologiste) etc, it's advisable to be referred by your GP. This involves your GP writing a letter explaining the reason for the referral. It's up to you to then find an appropriate specialist and to make an appointment directly with them.
The cost of medical care is set by the government but many specialists have the right to charge a higher rate, otherwise known as 'depassements honoraires'.
These costs may or may not be reimbursed by your top-up (mutuelle) health insurance depending on the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.
N.B. If you make an appointment directly with a specialist, you might face higher charges and your health insurance might not approve the reimburse-ment.
Which Specialists are Difficult to Find in Annecy?
I mentioned earlier that certain geographical areas of France are medical deserts due to a severe lack of medical professionals. Even though Annecy is not classified as such, GP's, paediatricians and dentists are under constant strain due to the rising population in Annecy, hence the difficulty in finding either one willing to take new patients. With regards to other fields, we've noticed that it is extremely difficult to get an appointment with certain specialists. For example, with an orthodontist, I book one year in advance. To see a cardiologist, it can take 2-4 months depending on where you live and finding a dermatologist is even harder, it can take 6-8 months.
Arranging Scans, Blood or Urine Tests
Scans, X-Rays & Ultrasounds
If your doctor refers you for a scan, x-ray or ultrasound, it is advisable to do some research as there are designated centres for this but they don't all offer the same service. For example, my son needed a scan of his spine and legs. The General Clinic was the only place that I could find which offered 3D images of the back and legs.
N.B. Your doctor will specify on the prescription the type of examination that is required.
If you're interested in learning more about this kind of service, the key websites are:
IMARA74 - covers various centres including the imagery service at the General Clinic. Reservations can be made through easydoct.com
Centre d'Imagerie Médicale du Lac - also includes various locations. Reservations can be made directly on their website or via Doctolib.
Depending on what you need and current availability, it can take anything from 1-6 weeks for an appointment. You might be lucky and get a cancellation and if you're flexible with your time and you're willing to drive a bit further out from Annecy, you will increase your chances of getting an earlier appointment.
Before the scan, the medical professional will discuss with you what you're having done and why. Once finished, you return to the waiting area until an administrator calls you to finalise payment and pick up your 'images', which includes a summary of what was done together with the findings. A copy of the results are normally also sent to your GP and it is up to you to make a new appointment with him/her if you think follow up treatment is required.
The whole process is actually quite efficient, once you have an appointment that is. What I love most about the French healthcare system is that you get to keep a copy of everything! So, if your French isn't quite there yet, you can translate the information in your own time so that you fully understand the medical terminology used and the fine detail of the medical problem. You also have a complete record of all your medical interventions which can be useful should you move and need to refer back to them at some point in the future.
Blood & Urine Tests
Your doctor might request that you get a blood test (prise de sang) and/or a urine test (ECBU - Examen Cyto-Bactériologique des Urines) and will give you a prescription for what you need to get done. Some tests require that you fast beforehand but your doctor should inform you of this.
It is up to you to make an appointment with 'un laboratoire d'analyses'. In Annecy there are several e.g. Biogroup Mirialis, Annecy Le Vieux, Eurofins Laboratoire de biologie médicale Annecy, Les Romains, Bio-Val Laboratory Annecy "Parmelan", to name a few. In most cases, you can book an appointment online or if you live nearby, you can pop in and book it directly. Availability for these tests is usually pretty good. I've never had to wait longer than a week as there are quite a few testing centres around. After the test, you will receive a copy of the results and your GP will be sent a copy too.
N.B. At any medical appointment you will be asked for your Carte Vitale and they will check your personal contact details; name, address, telephone number and email. If you don't have a Carte Vitale because you haven't applied for it yet, you will have to pay for the consultation, test, treatment etc in full. If you have private health insurance, you can pass on the bill for reimbursement.
N.B. The above information is based purely on my personal experience. Annecy is a dynamic environment, things change all the time and everyone's experience differs depending on personal needs, local demand and staffing at each of the medical centres.
Final Thoughts
While Annecy boasts a relatively good ratio of GPs to residents, if you are a newcomer, it's prudent to proactively seek out and establish relationships with healthcare providers upon arrival, preferably by phone or face-to-face. Utilising online resources, understanding the local healthcare structure and tapping into local community networks can significantly ease your access to certain health-care services.
That's all for now. If you have any questions about the above or need help with anything related to this article, feel free to contact me.
À bientôt.
Tel: 06 28 13 82 60
Email: info@simplyannecy.com
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