As a French living in the UK, I think the only thing I miss from France is being able to see « my » doctor. It was already strange not to be able to see a doctor whenever I needed to when I first arrived in Berkshire 12 years ago but after covid it is almost impossible. Before i thought my reaction was typical of a French but now all my British friends think the same. And the fact that you have to call at 8:00am, stay in the queue for ages and then if you manage to reach the useless receptionist, just to be told that there are no slots available and I should call 111 instead, the whole thing just drives me nuts.
On the French news I have seen that in some areas in France you have des déserts médicaux, is that your case?
I use to have to do the same as you after our original doctor retired, could only speak to a human at 8am and then get an appointment about 2 weeks hence. I took to driving to the surgery (15kms) to face the receptionist in person but got fed up with that and managed to change to another surgery only 4 kms away.
I don’t bother phoning now as I pass it 2 or 3 times a week anyway and, as my wife is fragile our new doctor insists on only doing home visits. If I need a prescription for myself he includes me in the consultation at the same time. No waiting for ages in crowded waiting rooms anymore.
The only downside is that, as he has no printer with him, he writes the ordonnances out in his barely readable scrawl. More than once i have had to translate it for the pharmacist. 
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I started a post on this subject.
We live between Cluny and Charolles and unless it is a total emergency, she leaves a couple of appointments for that, we book a month ahead for renewing our prescriptions.
There is a shortage of doctors here and indeed, they have a message to this effect on the start of the beginning of their telephone message.
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Things have changed a lot here and very quickly, we now have to wait two weeks for a ‘face to face’ appointment although we can book this online.
Thanks for reminding me! 
That is good that you found another doctor. Home visits! We don’t even know what it is here. If i get a GP on the phone, I consider myself lucky🙄
Oh yes. I forgot that in France, you have to see the doctor all the time, even for a repeat prescription! That is the good thing about GPs not willing to see their patients, they don’t mind renewing the prescriptions without seeing the patients😁. in France I think it is a bit too much, you don’t need to see your doctor for everything and in Britain it is the other way round, you can’t see a GP at all🙄
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It’s actually got a wee bit easier here as we now have 2 doctors in the village practice. I never have to wait more than a couple of days for “my” doctor though. Where I was living in the UK, it has now become a massive challenge to see a GP at all. I am sooo relieved o be here, especially at an age where I am needing more medical attention.
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Not sure about the “have to” bit… is that something new??
I know that local Docs do printout repeat prescriptions which are left in the Surgery for folk to collect …
not just my own Doc (20km away) … I’ve noticed similarly at the Maison Medical when waiting to see my Kiné man.
On occasion, we’ve asked for the paperwork to be zapped directly to our pharmacy and then arranged collection of the medication by a helpful neighbour…
However, our Doc doesn’t like doing Repeats more than once, without actually seeing us… which seems good sense.
Very recently, due to health emergency and no helpful neighbour available, we even had the pills/potions delivered to our home by one of the pharmacy staff… who waved away my offer to pay…
I almost cried at their kindness…
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Here in Vienne/ 86 there are always local advertisements searching for additional doctors so there is clearly a need for more. Our local surgery will always offer a same day appointment for urgent matters, but we need to wait about a week for a routine appointment.
The biggest UK-France difference is perhaps time allocated for an appointment: my family in the UK report that each appointment is limited to 6’ 30", whereas our MTs offer 15 or 30 minute slots so that any problems can be discussed fully.
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I reckon that Doctors are doing the level best to help everyone… medical deserts are everywhere it seems…
We try to stay fit… and keep our appointments to as brief a visit as possible… but it is nice to know that he will give us the necessary time…
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The appointment is scheduled for 15 minutes .
Not in the UK or here in 86, Jane…
certainly is with our Doc too… but, of course, the appointments can over-run (and do…) if the patient needs longer…
So we try to keep ours as brief as possible to allow a bit of catch-up… and I reckon other patients do that too…
First question on arrival at the waiting-room… "when is your appointment… " and that gives everyone the nod on just how long we’ll have to wait… often choosing to take a stroll around that village rather than sit cooped-up.
The way medical training and the health service is structured in each country makes a huge difference. A big subject, but a few thoughts.
In the UK the medical schools council defines the number of training places and getting one of the places is hugely competitive. The numbers have increased in recent years to 14,500. However the UK still has about half the number of GPs per head as France. However the NHS commissioning bodies have a lot of control over the issuing of contracts to ensure that there are GP surgeries everywhere. But because there are fewer actual GPs each one has a huge patient list. So you may have a surgery, but can’t get to see a doctor.
In France there was the numerus clausus which limited the number of training places (at its lowest about 5000 I think) and there was no real selection process. So the success rate was was very low. Macron got rid of this in 2020, and the number of places has now climbed to nearly 11,000.
Despite that there are more GPs per head in France than the UK, but because of the restriction of new doctors for last 40 years the age profile is higher so a lot are (finally) retiring. And a GP is a profession libèrale in France, so GP can set up shop (or not) wherever they like. And many younger GPs don’t like rural areas. So if there is a surgery you can see a doctor - but in lots of rural areas there are no active surgeries, And the surgery can determine the size of the patient list.
And then there’s the difference in how GPs contracts and how they get paid, and what for. Which again affects provision. I could go on, and on, and on!
My GP is getting on, and I always ask anxiously about how she is!
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I must be lucky I suppose, here in 17. I can see my doctor any time within prescribed hours, five days a week. I just turn up and sit in the waiting room. I have a permanent prescription which lasts for 3 months after which time I go see the doctor to renew it for another 3 months. So I see my doctor 4 times a year.
If I need to see the doctor for something else, other than renewing a prescription, I just turn up unannounced and wait. When an annual blood test is due, for example, I ask for one and the whole process takes just 24 hours.
A rare and fortunate position I’m in, seemingly, when I see how others are having problems.
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We’re perhaps lucky too. In the town where we live here in 33, there doesn’t appear to be a shortage. In addition, our preferred MT doesn’t offer appointments at all… It’s normally first-come-first-served, but he does prioritise people if he sees they’re obviously struggling or in pain. Otherwise you just turn up and wait your turn. The appointments therefore aren’t for defined period either - some are in and out within 2 mins. Longest I think I’ve ever had to wait was 30 mins.
Admittedly in the more rural areas it’s different and I’ve seen several billboards advertising for MTs. Another reason why I’m not keen on living in the middle of nowhere.
Oh, almost forgot… unlike whenever I saw my GP in the UK, our MT here is very “generous” when writing prescriptions. His handwriting is just as illegible though!
We can usually book an appointment on Doctolib for the next day. We have different MTs. When I arrive there is usually noone in the waiting room, and after a few minutes he calls me in. I actually look forward to my Doctor’s appointments!
North Carente - it took a little while to get a MT. But he is great, we communicate in French/English if needed. Appointments are usually within a 3- day wait, or same day if urgent.
Last week was difficult to make any appointments as most surgeries seemed to have an extended Easter holiday . Specialist appointments take longer to arrange -up to 6months- in some cases.
My mom in Germany is complaining about wait times - 30 minutes sitting around in a waiting room. I had to remind her that she then has all the time in the world to discuss symptoms and treatment. Just like in France. In Scotland - our doctors surgery was excellent (pre covid) but the most time one had with the doctors was 10 minutes - and you were out. Another problem? make another appointment…
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I am lucky to have two different cabinets médicaux within a five-minute drive. Plus 10 minutes away clinique, hospital, specialists etc.