In the narrow streets of Albi, Tarn prefecture, a new medical office opened its doors in June 2023. Under large brick arches, 11 retired doctors take turns at the medical center to offer general and pediatric medicine consultations, from Monday to Friday. “Every week, we each do two half-day shifts,” says Jacques Le Gorrec, 71, vice-president of the association of retired doctors of Albigensian with a smile.
For patients without a treating doctor
The service is mainly dedicated to people who do not have a doctor, such as new residents, students or tourists, who flock especially in the summer to admire the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “These are not treating doctors with follow-up,” explains Gilbert Hangard, deputy mayor of Albi responsible for health. “This is one-off care, when a doctor is absent, or a patient has no one to go see. » This organization reassured active doctors in the town of 50,000 inhabitants, while fears emerged at the start of the project of seeing competition develop with retired doctors.
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Filling retirements
However, action had to be taken in Albi. The observation was made: a third of the city's doctors were retiring. The different health stakeholders then sat around the table. An organization was found to satisfy everyone: around ten volunteer doctors formed an association, from which they are salaried for 50 euros per hour. For its part, the town hall provides premises, while the Regional Health Agency (ARS) finances the system and the Albi hospital provides logistics (medical secretariat, computer system, billing, etc.). “Not doing paperwork was one of the practitioners’ requests,” explains Gilbert Hangard. “For our part, we asked them to organize themselves so that there are doctors available throughout the week, all year round. »
Eighteen months after opening, success has been achieved. The medical center is always full from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nearly 1,300 crossings are recorded each month.
The city's emergency departments are taking advantage of this initiative to redirect patients who do not need life-saving care. “We have noticed that there are fewer patients with a low degree of severity arriving at us,” recognizes Jérémy Luceno, director of medical affairs and communications at Albi hospital. “This allows the hospital to be fully devoted to the most serious care. » Doctor Jacques Le Gorrec, delighted with the experience, is regularly thanked by these one-day patients: “It doesn't even feel like we're going to work. We go on a vacation, we meet people, we treat them and they are happy. What do you want better? »
