In France, making an appointment with the ophthalmologist requires a little anticipation. A survey carried out by Yssup Research among 2,643 ophthalmologists for the Point Vision group reveals a worrying situation. Indeed, when an ophthalmologist appointment is possible, the patient will have to wait on average 77 days before the consultation. But depending on where you live, the delay can go up to 7.3 months and reach more than a year for some practitioners. 15% of ophthalmologists also refuse to receive new patients and, in ten departments, refusals of appointments because of a saturated agenda concern 30 to 65% of liberal specialists.
Delays and strong inequalities in access to care
According to this survey, it takes between 24 and 205.3 days to get an appointment depending on the department.
The shortest delays were observed in Paris, in Hauts-de-Seine (92), Alpes-Maritimes (06) and Bouches-du-Rhône (13). Patients wait between 24 and 40 days on average, while in Loire (42), Finistère (29), Isère (38) and Seine-Maritime (76), the delays remain very long, often exceeding 152 days of waiting. In Rennes and Toulouse, the wait even exceeds 3 months.
If getting an appointment is a hardship in a large number of departments, patients are also outright denied access to the doctor’s office.
The patients of the Loire are the worst off. They must wait 205.3 days on average to consult, knowing that the rate of impossibility to make an appointment is very high (65%).
This impossibility particularly affects Meurthe-et-Moselle (59%), Moselle (46%), Isère (38%) Ile-et-Vilaine (36%), Essonne (34%), Seine-Maritime and Finistère (31% each) the Bas-Rhin and the North (30% each).
This investigation seems to confirm a recent parliamentary report which revealed the “crying lack of professionals, in particular sector 1, supported by some regions, and waiting times that can sometimes reach 18 months. “