I cannot get a RDV with a cardio via the telephone, I have been trying since last September!
Has anybody tried the snail mail method, does it work?
Thank you
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Can you get yourself to the cardiology department? Usually they are group practices and with the help of the receptionist you may have more success in getting an appointment with one of the team. Receptionists/secretaries in places like this can be your allies. Getting through by phone is notoriously difficult, face to face it’s easier to build a relationship with them.
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@SuePJ thanks Sue, I tried that in December, no joy 
We are already registered with the cardio, but his new secretary is not very helpful, a shoulder shrugger.
I have been trying the main hospital in Perigueux, they have more cardio’s to chose from, no luck so far.
I am going to have another another word with our MT next week or just go on the hunt for cardio secretaries at the hospital.
that would be my plan… ask his advice… tell him of the difficulties…
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Sorry to hear about the shoulder shrugger. If you are registered with him, can you make an appointment for (say) six months ahead for a regular consultation and then in the meantime hunt elsewhere for something sooner? Where does your MT figure in all of this? Can they help? Mine wrote me a prescription and I was seen within a matter of days at St Hilaire Agen.
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Could you try DoctoLib? I finally got an appointment with a dermatalogue after a few weeks of trying.
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My experience is that email and snail mail doesn’t work with hospital services. Do you need a hospital based cardiologue as sometimes a cardiologue de ville is more accessible. Or try a téléconsultation if there is a cabinet nearby?
And your MT may well have a faster route in if you can persuade him or her to take action on your behalf. I’ve only used this once, when it was really urgent, but it got me a speedy appointment with a gastroenterologist who are equally difficult to pin down.
Good luck…I am on the list to get on the list for an actual appointment with my cardiologue! Only been 4 months!
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Sounds like their Hearts not in it 
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Groan.
I’m puzzled why everyone says that the French health service is marvellous when it seems impossible to even get on a waiting list without months of trying.
The hidden waiting list to get on the waiting list is not unheard of in the UK, of course.
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Because once you get on someone’s list it is comparatively marvellous. Sadly it is a way of rationing their workload. I waited 7 months to get on a specialist’s list but now an established patient I get a very responsive and attentive service that my friends in a similar position in the UK marvel at.
And also massive different between city and rural life as large swathes of France have a paucity of medical professionals. If I were desperate for something I would hop on train to Paris or Lyon.
(With the cardiologue I forgot to book my next appointment in time, so am now in a holding pattern again)
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Jam tomorrow is no good if you have a heart attack today.
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For urgent/ emergency there is no problem, And things like cancer diagnosis there are fast track services that get you into treatment pretty quickly,
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I did this and got seen in a couple of weeks. The previous time I went to the department and booked an appointment in person.
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I’ve just gone onto Doctolib and put in cardiologue and Perigueux (as you mentioned it @Lily ) and the next appointment at Perigueux hospital is 17th April. I think that’s pretty good.
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Hearts are things that can be seriously screwed without too many symptoms until you drop dead - the “urgency” might not be apparent until it is too late.
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I live in Bretagne, near Redon, and when the Doctor referred me to a Cardiologist I couldnt get an appointment anywhere. I found in Paris I could get one almost by walking in off the street and got a day with my partner in Paris. Now my Doctor has his own machine.
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Ah the postcode lottery, somethings we are used to 
Agreed. But the preventative medicine here is not bad either, which is why I have had a pretty thorough assessment as high risk, complete with angiogram, and am supposed to have had annual checks from then on. It is my fault for forgetting to book this year’s in time, so since I am not urgent I have to wait again,
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Unfortunately our cardiologue died last year. OH saw our MT who wrote a comprehensive letter to a different cardio. He was lucky to get a rdv fairly quickly. But in general I believe the wait is 6 months. Still, having a letter from your MT could work wonders. And as SuePJ says, being face to face with the receptionist is a good idea.
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@SuePJ Thank you for taking the time to have a look. The only one that pops up is not available online 
Can you please DM the details.