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Consultations
The information you need before booking: who is seen, reasons for consulting, opening hours, fees and how an urgent primary care consultation goes.
The essentials, at a glance
Reasons
What people come for
This list is not exhaustive: general practice is often the first port of call when a symptom appears or a situation calls for medical advice.
Recent health problems
Fever, sore throat, cough, ear infection, cystitis, gastroenteritis, migraine, abdominal pain, a rash, a sprain, a wound to clean or close.
Something that worries you
A symptom that lasts, tiredness that will not lift, a lump, unusual breathlessness, recurring pain. These symptoms are often harmless, but if they persist or change they may warrant medical advice.
When your own doctor is unavailable
An evening, a Sunday, during their holidays, or when you are visiting Paris: something that cannot wait for the next appointment, without being a hospital emergency.
Children
Fever in an infant, repeated ear infections, rashes, routine vaccinations, certificates for nursery, school or sport.
Prevention
Adult vaccinations and boosters, screening by age and history, check-ups, stopping smoking, sleep, diet.
Certificates and medical documents
Sick notes, medical certificates, referral letters to a specialist or for imaging.
How the appointment goes
- The conversation — the reason for the visit, how it has evolved, current treatment, medical history and anything else relevant to the situation.
- The clinical examination — adapted to the reason for the visit: blood pressure, temperature, chest examination, palpation, or examination of the throat, ears or skin as needed.
- What follows — the conclusions of the consultation, treatment where indicated, any further tests, and the signs that should bring you back.
What to bring
- Your carte Vitale or proof of cover — and, for EU residents, your European Health Insurance Card
- Your current medication, or simply the boxes
- Recent test results or reports, if you have any
- A child’s health record, and everyone’s vaccination record
Fees and reimbursement
Consultations are sector 1: the fee is the one set by the national agreement between doctors and the French health insurance system, with no additional charge, subject to the rules applicable to the consultation.
How payment works if you are visiting
In French general practice you normally pay at the end of the consultation and are reimbursed afterwards. With a carte Vitale the process is automatic. Without one, you are given a feuille de soins — a paper treatment form — to submit to your own insurer or health service.
The “coordinated care pathway”
France reimburses less when a patient bypasses their registered family doctor, but the law lists exceptions. Whether one applies depends on your own situation:
- Your registered doctor is away or unavailable
- It is an emergency
- You are away from home — travelling, on holiday, visiting Paris
- You are under 16
- You have no registered doctor yet
To find out what applies to you, check the information published by the French health insurance system (Assurance maladie).
In an emergency
Where a situation may be a medical emergency, questions of cost or cover should not delay a call to 15 or 112.