The problem of waiting times for an ophthalmic appointment is not new. But according to a new survey, they keep getting longer.
Ever longer waiting times to go to the ophthalmologist is an eternal problem that the French have to face. A new study, carried out by Yssup Research for the Point Vision group shows that access to this specialty is not about to improve.
In 2013, the first study on the subject reported an average wait of 77 days to obtain an ophthalmologist appointment. In 2015, far from having settled down, the delays only increased. It takes 85 days today to be offered a date, eight more than two years ago.
The idea of this survey was simple: while vision problems are only increasing in the French population, due in particular to its aging, the Point Vision group wanted to know if getting an appointment with an ophthalmologist was still too. complicated than in 2014.
Pollsters called 3,239 city specialists, more than half of the nation’s ophthalmologists, posing as a potential patient. These calls were made between November 30, 2014 and December 23, 2015. They then noted and compared all the deadlines for obtaining appointments that were indicated to them.
Regional disparities
True, the average wait time has increased. However, the good news is that the refusal rate has dropped slightly: 11% of doctors against 15% in 2014 refuse to take on new patients.
And, even if it takes eight more days to be seen by a specialist, appointments given at six months or more are declining, from 7% of the slots offered to 11% two years ago.
However, it is difficult to generalize from this study, because the situation is very heterogeneous in the territory. Access to eye care and wait times vary greatly depending on the region in which you live.
The north of France and some central departments are particularly affected, with waiting times that can exceed six months. Corsica and the Alpes-Maritimes, on the other hand, are doing quite well, and moreover hardly record any refusal of appointment.
Waiting times by department. Source: Point Vision
While there is clearly an explosion in demand with nearly three quarters of French people affected by sight problems, the lack of ophthalmologists is clearly singled out. To remedy this, the need to accept a greater number of interns in this specialty is heard.
Ophthalmology: 85 days to get an appointment – The delays are getting longer https://t.co/bduYxuF3hF #health pic.twitter.com/nvOp1XPbCQ
– Pourquoidocteur (@Pourquoidocteur) February 11, 2016
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