The reasons for long waits for doctors' appointments

Why does it take so long to make an appointment with a specialist?

When it comes to making an appointment with a doctor, waiting times are long - too long. Depending on which general practitioner or specialist you want to see, you may have to wait several days, or even months, to get a consultation with a practitioner. So much so that today, according to Ifop data, over 67% of French people end up giving up on making an appointment with a GP.

Appointment with a specialist: why is the waiting time so long?

Making an appointment for a specialist consultation is becoming increasingly complicated. Today, waiting times for an ophthalmologist can be as long as 80 days. Geographical and demographic factors play an essential role in waiting times and ease of access to care. The French healthcare system and the Health Act aim to reinforce access to care throughout the country. The fight against medical deserts is underway thanks to the Pacte territoire-santé.

Fewer and fewer healthcare professionals available

Waiting times are getting longer, as supply no longer matches demand. It's a fact that specialist doctors are less and less available. There are two reasons why the French find it difficult to access healthcare.

On the one hand, newcomers have shorter opening hours. Practices close their doors on Saturdays in favor of weekends. What's more, as the profession is more open to women, Wednesday afternoons are put to personal use.

What's more, more and more specialists are abandoning their primary function and looking to other horizons. Many dermatologists are turning to aesthetics and cosmetology. This is known as "aesthetic and corrective dermatology". Unfortunately, these aesthetic dermatologists no longer see patients for their usual consultations.

Doctors are retiring and it's difficult to replace them, especially in rural areas. What's more, the government is encouraging young students to set up practice in areas where there is a shortage of doctors, through"public service commitment contracts".

Geographical location and medical deserts

Waiting times to consult healthcare professionals depend on your geographical location. Statistics show that waiting times are much shorter in urban than in rural areas. Similarly, people wait less in the north of France than in the south. The reason for this? The proximity of suitable medical facilities.

The fact is, doctors are more attracted to places with better medical facilities. There are always more of them in large conurbations, where there are hospitals and clinics in particular.

These waiting times are even dangerous in medical deserts, where consultations with ophthalmologists and dermatologists take more than 100 days.

Demographic influence: an aging population

The rise in demand is largely due to the aging of the population. As patients age, their medical needs become more frequent. Their primary care physician refers them to more competent doctors. The medical specialties most affected by this increase are cardiology and rheumatology.

With age comes a host of chronic illnesses. They require regular follow-up and frequent appointments.

Demand is so high that more and more doctors are refusing first appointments.

The professions most affected by long waits for appointments

Longer waiting times for appointments affect all healthcare professionals, including hospitals. In fact, even general practice is not spared. Waiting times to see a GP now range from 6 to 11 days. Ten years ago, it was just 4.

Ophthalmology: the longest waiting period

Ophthalmology consultations are the most difficult to obtain, according to figures released by DREES (Direction de la recherche, des études, de l'évaluation et des statistiques). The average wait to see an ophthalmologist is 190 days, or more than six months.

The fact is that it is the only health professional you can consult for eye diseases. General practitioners are only qualified to treat conjunctivitis. Only ophthalmologists can intervene for routine check-ups, for various ocular pathologies (retinal detachment, strabismus, astigmatism, presbyopia, retinopathy, etc.) and for surgical interventions: eyelid surgery, ocular surgery, refractive surgery, cataract surgery, and so on.

Dermatology, 3-month minimum wait

The dermatologist is the second least accessible specialist in France. It takes between 60 and 126 days to obtain a consultation.

The scarcity of specialists explains this discrepancy. The fewer they are, the longer the waiting time. In Paris, with 72 registered specialists, the waiting time is around 60 days. However, Marseille has only 26 dermatologists, so it takes an average of 95 days to get an appointment.

However, in departments such as Ariège, Meuse, Creuse and Hautes-Alpes, the situation is dramatic, especially for patients. There are 5 dermatologists per 100,000 inhabitants.

Gynecology: scheduling appointments in advance

Access to gynecological care in France is also very difficult. It can take up to 93 days, or more than three months, to get a consultation with a gynecologist. This can be catastrophic for a patient wishing to undergo cervical cancer screening, for example.

This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that there are not enough gynecologists in France, particularly in the northern départements. In Lozère, there are just two gynecology specialists for every 80,000 inhabitants.

Average waiting times for consultations with specialists

The table summarizes average waiting times for an appointment with a specialist doctor in France in 2021:

Average waiting time for specialists

‍Ophthalmologist- 80 to 190 days

Dermatologist - 61 to 126 days

Cardiologist - 50 to 104 days

Gynecologist - 44 to 93 days

Rheumatologist - 45 to 96 days

Dental surgeon - 28 to 67 days

Pediatrician - 22 to 64 days

Radiologist - 21 to 48 days

How can I reduce waiting time for appointments?

Telemedicine can help you overcome medical deserts. In fact, there are two ways to reduce the waiting time for an appointment with a specialist:

• Access to specialists and paramedics in less than 7 days thanks to our solutions Tessan
• Opt for enhanced teleconsultation without an appointment, in less than 15 minutes, at your nearest pharmacy.

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