In Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée), you have to get up very early to try to get an appointment… very late. This Monday morning, before the clock struck 6 a.m., a queue formed in front of the Vis’Yon eye center, which opens its places eight months in advance. Before the sun came up, several people came hoping to get an appointment… for June 2024.
“I decided to come very early this morning. My ophthalmologist has retired,” says Yvonne, satisfied with her remote appointment for June 21, 2024.
In this town of 47,000 inhabitants throughout the year, and more so in summer, there are only nine active ophthalmologists. Among them, three will retire in the coming months. Therefore, Vis’Yon’s office is overflowing, as she is one of the only ones still accepting new patients.
“Very high demand”
“(This system) was launched to respond to a very high demand, particularly new patients,” justifies the center, ensuring that this method “seems to be the [la] fairer for patients and more protective for staff.
Even though the appointment booking system is inconvenient for patients, many people answer the call. This Monday, even before 8, all the places were assigned for June 2024. For the rest, you will have to return in a month, for a visit in July 2024. And even if you travel early, sometimes you will have to return:
“This is the third time we have come for an appointment, (this time) we arrived safely, we have one each,” rejoice Madeleine and Jean, whose doctor has also retired.
Once they have their precious date in hand, future patients seem relieved to some and satisfied to others. “I’m going to go home and go back to bed (…) it’s not 7 yet,” Danielle laughs.
In France, today there are only 5,800 practicing ophthalmologists. Faced with this shortage, the government has delegated part of its missions to orthoptists. The executive has not communicated about the evolution of the deadlines since the adoption of the law on February 1, 2023.
Source: BFM TV
