Loss of rural GP 鈥榩uts lives at risk鈥�
A Dordogne resident has lodged a complaint against the local prefect after his 94-year-old mother鈥檚 doctor retired and has not been replaced.
Francis Beausoleil says the state is 鈥減utting lives in danger鈥� and 鈥渟topping equality of access to care for the vulnerable.鈥�
The other doctor in Sigoul猫s cannot take new patients.
Mr Beausoleil says it is affecting elderly people鈥檚 ability to stay in their own homes.
鈥淲e鈥檙e being fobbed off with measures that will only have an effect in 2023-2024,鈥� he said, adding that there is no national doctor shortage and that the state should do more to ensure doctors are better spread out.
The issue of 鈥渕edical deserts鈥� is a perennial problem and the recent launch of telemedicine 鈥搘here internet-based GP sessions are now reimbursed 鈥� is aimed at helping.
Dr Jean-Paul Hamon, pres-ident of the private practice doctors鈥� body FMF, said it was the first time he had heard of a complaint against a prefecture.
He said the problems are due to 25 years of poor decisions by ministers. He added that 11,000 doctors are working on after retirement age and 90% of rural sole practitioners will not be replaced, so people cannot expect a doctor in every village.
It helps if several work together to serve a wider area. Nearby Saussignac mairie said there are plans for such a clinic in Sigoul猫s.
