No problem.
Next one due 5th August…
Thanks again Graham, much appreciated.
1 Like
Thanks Graham. Very useful. OH is firmly convinced he needs to go back to the UK in order to get his glasses at anything like a reasonable price. I may product test this for him since I too am due a new eye test and I’ll be interested to see what a local optician will offer me when I take in my prescription. 
1 Like
Brilliant Graham, many thanks.
It was of particular interest when I read the note that Opticians (unlike dentist) have a system that allows them to check what cover for glasses you have with your top up.
Our dentist must be on the ball as my wife recently had 2 crowns fitted for around 1300 euros and our dentist was quick to advise that we would get full remboursement from our 100% Mutual, which we did. Together with CPAM and our 100% mutualle we got 100% refund, result.
Wondering now if a simular system exists for hearing aids ??
1 Like
It is very interesting… especially as OH needs something (and possibly, so do I).
However, a lady (neighbour/friend) in her late '80s… who I know has only a small income… she’s just got hearing aids which are going to cost her quite a bit.
I suspect it’s because they’re the tiny, more of less unseen sort with tiny batteries which I know she will struggle to replace anyway.
(personally, if it’s free I don’t care if it is a huge, gramaphone hornshaped thingy and large battery hanging around my neck…)
I’d be interested to see what type of hearing aid is currently available on the zero cost line… in fact I’ve already decided to thoroughly interrogate the folk at the Hearing centre in Haute Vienne next time I’m over there… I’ve heard good reports of that establishment.
Excellent Graham …
Just one point … you do not need a prescription from your Doctor to see an Ophtalmo.
You can make a rdv directly with the Eye Specialist as it is they who test your eyes and provide the prescription which you take to the Opticians to be made up.
Hmm… seems to me that the scheme might be too discrete… this is a French lady, with all her marbles and I’m trying to gently tell her that HAids could/should be free.
She just looks at me in amazement and says that these are costing her xxxx
which figure has been confirmed by another HA user.
EDIT: Once I’ve interrogated the HAid testers/suppliers I’ll report back.
Hi Sue and welcome to SF
Quite right of course but given the waiting times for ophtalmalogie, a letter from your MT can often help prioritise your case - sorting out people with health concerns (like Diabetes - a major concern in France) from run of the mill (if you pardon the phrase) eye tests.
That was certainly my experience obtaining an RDV at Limoges CHU.
1 Like
Was just about to say this. We did ask our MT. Test next week 
Yep… years ago a similar situation (6 months to wait) saw me ending up at A&E waving my bit of paper from the Doc. (it was my Doc who told me to go there…)
I was sent over to the hospital (proper) and seen swiftly by the resident eye chappie… lovely man… we discussed classic cars while he investigated my eyes…
Have had similar experience; a referral letter from your MT is almost essential and can circumvent many hours in Urgence whilst they investigate the reasons for your presentation. Being poked and prodded by Urgence staff when you are clearly not well only adds to the trauma particularly if your MT already holds the key to your issue.
3 Likes
I called the SAMU and was told to go to Urgence and they would be expecting me.
What a joke. Nobody had called and I was left to wait in a wheelchair and had to ask one of the other people waiting to go to the receptionist and tell them that I was feeling very ill.
I then got moved through into Urgence and put onto a trolley where I had to wait for 8 hours for my Covid test to come through before being admitted into the hospital.
Thanks again Graham!
Will look into this.
1 Like
For urgent medical life threatening emergencies where the MT or other medical assistance is not immediately available, it is recommended that you dial 18 for the Sapeurs-Pompiers for the reason that the SAMU are hospital based (and may not always be immediately available) whereas the Pompiers are more locally based, trained paramedics and capable of providing emergency medical care (as well as putting out fires and rescue). In all cases when contacting 18, they will keep the caller on the line to give advice and guidance until the appropriate service arrives on scene (much as is the case with 999 in the UK). The S-P can and will make appropriate decisions about who best to deal with the situation based on the information gleaned from the caller.
The minimal information to provide in such a call is
- telephone number (or place where the call is being made from)
- the nature of the problem: maladie, accident…
- the location as precisely as possible
Further details:
- respond to questions posed
- apply the instructions given
- only disconnect the call on instructions from the operator
This information is provided by Union Départementale des Sapeurs Pompiers de la charente (UDSP 16 Section Secourisme) for their course Prévention et Secours Civiques (PSC1).
2 Likes