It did, though it was tiring. To start with I pressed the right button in the lift and walked out with confidence only to find out we were back where we started. As we came out someone else took our place and 1 minute later she came out again muttering il ne marche pas. So it wasn’t just me. 
We got to the scanner place eventually, well in advance of the appointment and were quickly taken in by a young man who spoke very good English. After she had ‘cooked’ for a while we resettled her on the wheelchair but as both me and another assistant bent to unlock the brakes the large rigid peak of my cap, worn because it was raining when we set out, gave him a sharp whack on the head. As we left he was being wheeled into the scanner. ONLY JOKING!! We were directed to the lifts to take us to the floor for her installation. 2 and a half hours early, they directed us apologetically to the waiting room where we settled down. It was very warm in there and before long someone else came in to see if we were alright and I replied in the affirmative but asked if there was water available anywhere. She left to find out and 2 minutes later another person appeared with a small tray on which were 4 packets of biscuits, 2 yoghurt pots, 2 pots of fruit puree, a small jug of water and 2 glasses. We settled down for a lovely picnic in the otherwise empty room. After some other people arrived, including an old man walking with assistance and who turned out to be waiting for an ambulance, one of the staff returned for the tray and asked Fran if she wanted a hot drink. She indicated coffee and the next question was ‘with sugar, how many, 1, 2, 3,4,5,6?’ to add to the general hilarity someone else said, also in English ‘100’. She got her hot coffee, with 2 sugars. 
Smack on the dot of 4.30 a nurse arrived to take charge of the wheelchair and, indicating to me to follow, set off at a blistering pace, it was all I could do to keep up and, at one point, they were out of my sight around one of the many corners. Eventually we arrived at a large private room with its own bathroom, the type I recognised from my own sojourn in that hospital many years ago.
After all the documentation was taken care of, and all the answers I had given on the questionaire were repeated, another nurse, who spoke English, came to complete the process and to inform us that she would be operated on at 8 this morning but she doubted she would come home the same day, Possibly Friday, and by ambulance. We said our goodbyes and it struck me as I lowered her mask for the last kiss that I saw for a fleeting moment the line- free smiling face with its blue eyes and still evident blond hair that I remembered from 60 years ago. She was smiling as I left and I wondered just how much of all this she understood, she seemed perfectly calm and relaxed in this strange environment.
Back down the hill to the car, which I had left 4 hours earlier, the dogs did not see me coming. Jules was fast asleep and Noubia sitting up but looking the other way. They only sprang into action, despite my nose pressed against the window, when they heard the click of the doors unlocking. I decided to drive straight home rather than struggle to get them out one by one, I wasn’t worried about their ability to last out for another hour, Dobermanns have famously iron bladders and that proved to be the case.
One strange thing before leaving Perigueux, I lined up to take advantage of the cheap diesel at Intermarche, but, after waiting some time and eventually getting the cap off and the card in, realised that I couldn’t remember the pin. 
Rather than risk losing it, and as I wasn’t desperate, I got back in and drove home without refuelling. I remembered the number when we were halfway home.
I will phone this afternoon to see how things went. M-P phoned me after seeing our return and will probably ring herself I think.
But they did suggest asking the doctor for a mechanical bed which would be free, they said.
More later. 
Are you able to use the wheelchair indoors to get her around, thinking about door size.