Pipedream

Pipedream , Mar 17th 2019 12:26 am

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum. We are currently in the very early stages of looking to recolate from Manchester to Aquitaine (potentially).

Ideally we are looking for a gite business for some income.
As well as another building for a private clinic.
The clinic would house private treatments such as skincare, wrinkle reduction and functional living.

Does anyone know if the non medical prescribing qualification is usually recognised in France?

Thanks.

cyrian

Hi Pipedream,
Welcome to the France section of the forum.
I have to say that when a new members posts and says that they want to run a gite business, my heart sinks.
Probably around 50% of new posters want to run gites and often, once they look at the practical aspects, we don't hear from them again.
You would need to choose a location where there is a gap in the market and be competitive with the many, many other gite owners who are already established.
You would have to choose your target market - Brits; Germans; Dutch and French.
There is a limited window in the year for a gite business.
You will not make a living from gites alone.
Now to turn to the nursing clinic.
The health service in France is very different to that in the UK.
I know several dozen healthcare or ex-healthcare professionals who all had their own consulting rooms (cabinets) as well as in some cases working in hospitals.
I am talking urologists; psychologists; gynaecologists; dermatologists; ophthalmologists etc etc.
You do not need to go to a hospital to access these specialists - some may accept your Carte Vitale where the treatment is paid by the health service and your private healthcare insurance (Mutuelle).
I am wondering what service you can offer that is not available by specialist doctors such as those above.
Good luck with your dream

dmu

+1 on all accounts.
Can't the many French beauticians or cosmetic surgeons deal privately with skin care and wrinkle reduction? I'm still in the dark re "functional living", and wonder whether you (Cyrian) do understand and that it's covered by one of the specialists you mentioned?
The OP made no mention of French language skills which would be indispensable for validation of medical qualifications. Might the "non-medical prescribing" (another term I don't understand) be offered to potential gîte clients?
Could the OP give more specific details on the planned services in layman's English, so that we can advise which Authorities to apply to for permission?
A great deal of research should be made both on the clinic and gîte fronts, not to mention factoring in UK citizens' rights to work in Europe once Brexit has been sorted, and I, too, wish the OP luck!

Pipedream

Thank you both for your quick replies.

I was hoping that healthcare professions would be able to help with my query. Perhaps me having to explain what the terminology means would generally indicate you may not be best placed to answer my question.

I tried to keep my post to the point and didn't feel a whole background and full business plan was necessary.

Of course, we will be extensively researching any aspects of either business. Just as we have done with our current business in the UK.

Yes, I am painfully aware of the current Brexit situation but this is not going to stop me looking at our potential life plans.

Thank you both for your concerns and contributions and well wishes.

Let's leave the negativity for another post though. I hope your heart recovers soon from its sinking.

👍

If anyone does know if the non medical prescribing qualification is something that is recognised in France that would be great.

I have made other enquiries but they are taking some time to provide a response.

🙂

spouse of scouse

A bit of a high-handed response to two long-term residents of France who took the time to try to assist you. Good luck with finding a 'healthcare professional' who will provide the answer you're looking for.

dmu

If we've sounded negative, it's because we are realistic, and it would be unfair not to make you aware of any and all pitfalls that have been encountered too late, due to lack of prior knowledge. As I'm wont to say, fore-warned is fore-armed....
I haven't found any official site concerning non-medical prescriptions, which might imply that this doesn't exist in France. On the other hand, have you looked at this site, which indicates that a nurse must have prescription forms which indicate his/her (French) qualification and identification number, in order to be processed by a pharmacy or medical requisites supplier (and, where applicable, accepted by the client's Health Insurance)
https://www.infirmiers.com/votre-car...firmieres.html

cyrian

Hi dmu
In the UK, you can have advanced nurse practitioners who can issue prescriptions and also pharmacist prescribers who can also issue prescriptions without the patient being referred to a GP.
As far as I know that does not exist in France. Just read your post and obviously it does exist.
My DD is a GP in the UK and she uses advanced nurse practitioners to be the first port of call for less complex cases. Where appropriate the nurse can refer the patient to a GP.
She also uses a pharmacist prescriber for blood-pressure monitoring and medicine review where they can alter the prescribed medicine if required.
I am a retired healthcare professional.

petitefrancaise

Personally, I would have gone to my dermatologue for skin care stuff that you mention - as would most of my friends - it's mostly covered by the medical insurance.
Anyway, to partly answer your question - here is the list of items that a nurse can prescribe in France - which is all you would be allowed to prescribe even if your "prescribing qualification" were recognised.
https://www.ameli.fr/pharmacien/exer...ion-infirmiers
As part of having any medical qualifications recognised in France, I believe you need to pass a french test so that is a good start!

dmu

Thanks for the explanation, which just goes to show the differences between the UK and French systems. I've lived too long in France to know what the procedures are in the UK nowadays.....
Is the expression "non-medical" the English equivalent of the French "para-médical"? in which case the list of products mentioned on my and petitefrançaise's links can be prescribed by an IDE, assuming that he/she is treating a patient, following Doctor's Orders. They themselves can't treat patients in their Cabinet or at home, without a prescription to that end from the Doctor. FWIW I've had direct experience with their devoted care when OH was ill, and know what services they can render.
As pf confirms, the OP would have to pass a French exam in order to get qualified in France, even if English-speaking clients/patients are eventually targetted.
Maybe the OP should go on French Nurses' forums for the ultimate answer, as AFAIK there are no practising BE members in France who can give one.
Over, and out....

Pipedream

Nurse practitioners are autonomous. Not just "used" by GPs. They work throughout the healthcare system in the UK, assessing, treating, monitoring and referring if necessary.

cyrian

Yes I know that.
Sorry I should have said employed,

Pipedream

Thankyou.

Pipedream

Thank you. I appreciate the constructive comments and that not all of it was negative.

Pipedream

Thabk you everyone for your replies.

I felt initially some information was negative. I asked about quite a specific point on what I thought would be a helpful platform. Only to be greeted with how I am making someone's heart sink because they have experience of people saying they want to run a gite business but basically can't be bothered with the hard work.

I feel it's unfair to tar everyone with the same brush.

I appreciate not everyone answered in this way and I am grateful for the helpful replies.

petitefrancaise

looks like it's just been made a whole lot easier for a nurse to have their qualifications recognised in France.
hurry though (or not) because this applies to EU countries only ...https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen..._en.htm#103720