MTs disappearing fast

[Headers]

I took my neighbour to see her(and my) MT yesterday afternoon.
He is under immense stress as the local area has lost 3 MTs in the last 2 years. He is the last man standing and is not far off retirement himself.

The waiting room was crammed. He doesn’t do rendez-vous, has no secretary.
Most people recognise one another. There was a mixture of old, young, a very poorly baby, a very old guy with Alzheimer’s who had fallen the day before.

And then there was a British couple sat in the corner. Talking loudly to one another about their upcoming return to the U.K. and then their trips to Spain and Portugal interspersed with expletive filled rants about the poor service and how ridiculous the long wait was. They also commented on the MT saying he would be showing off as he had a student with him from the University.
That was the reason for the long wait - the student was there to learn and was examining each patient to get some real life experience so everything took much longer than usual.

I said nothing. They’re had no Idea I was English.Their sense of entitlement was astonishing. I really wanted to tell them to bugger off if they were so dissatisfied.

I’m not sure how other people would have reacted to them but they made me very angry!

[suein56]

I took my neighbour to see her(and my) MT yesterday afternoon.

And there was a British couple sat in the corner.
Talking loudly to one another about their upcoming return to the U.K. and then their trips to Spain and Portugal interspersed with expletive filled rants about the poor service and how ridiculous the long wait was. They also commented on the MT ..

I said nothing. They’re had no Idea I was English.Their sense of entitlement was astonishing. I really wanted to tell them to bugger off if they were so dissatisfied.

I would have quietly commented to them in English on their dismissive attitude and suggested they quieten down and be grateful they weren't in the UK.
But then I can be a feisty wee soul .. I abhor injustice of any kind and that UK couple would have made me see red.

[exile]

So how do these intellectually challenged (I was going to write morons) think new doctors are going to get trained. New doctors who might one day replace the current one when they retire.

Strangely I had a slightly similar situation with the vet this morning. Had to ring since one of the cats had an injury (probably cat fight) that looked to be going septic. Arrived in good time but had to wait over three quarters of an hour to be seen by a young lady I had not seen before. And boy was she thorough doing lab tests as well as the normal examination and investigation. No complaints from me but I think she will have to learn to speed up a bit in order to get customer turn over up to an economic level. But that is all about what these stints in front of the public are all about isn't it.

[niemeyjt]

I have to say whenever I have an appointment at the University Hospital I get asked if I mind a student sitting in. I always agree with it for exactly those reasons - how do they learn otherwise? I am not sure if they are generally shadowing or if they get pulled in because of an anomaly. Either way.

I am not sure I share the OP's British couple's enthusiasm for a return to the UK healthcare system - albeit from the Swiss system with a preexisting condition.

[Liz]

Jeez how did you stay quiet, Headers?
I agree the shortage of MTs is worrying, but at least here you see them you get as much time as you need.
And the emergency services in our corner of SW France are superb, considering the majority of the Pompiers are volunteers.
I had reason to call 15 (SAMU) for advice very early last Sunday morning. As OH cannot currently drive and our neighbours were away the SAMU doc called out the pomps to get me to hospital as their crash team were already on a call. They were super. The SAMU team intercepted us on the way and took charge. Straight into A&E, no waiting.
Everyone very calm, all tests carried out and everything explained and I was kept informed of what was happening and why.
I was allowed home during the day but asked if poss to get someone to collect me, which OH organised, to avoid taking up ambulance time. Happy with that, I was OK albeit not at my best (!) Full follow-up advice was given, with notes for me and my MT.
Phew.
Have been resting and feeling grateful all week.
Saw my MT who patted me on the back metaphorically speaking, for not ignoring severe chest pains - too many people, especially women, do.

[Blaze]

@Headers Like Suein56, I'm not sure I could have kept quiet.
What those stupid Brits didn't appreciate is that students are often there because they are only too well aware of the shortage and want to specialise as MTs. My MT has had a student several times, usually in their 5th year or so and I always ask them if they're interested in becoming an MT, to which the response is always "Yes".
@Liz Hope you're feeling better ?? Take it easy .....

[niemeyjt]

At CHUV this week I had an Irish junior neurologist. He was previously at John Ratcliffe in Oxford.

He said he looked at roles in both France and Switzerland and went for CHUV because they accept his training and will give credits in his career path - which he said France wouldn't.

If the same applies to MTs then it would make recruitment from abroad harder.

[Mangetout]

My beloved MT died just before last Christmas. He had cancer and worked up until 2 days before he died. He continued working because it was his life, he was devoted to helping others. I remember him gently examining my late husband who had fallen and hurt his arm. He reassured him constantly, knowing that both he and my husband were dying. We cried and hugged him for the last time. What a man. I will never forget him. My new MT was chosen for me by him, and he chose well. She is caring and efficient. I never wait more than a day or so for a rdv.

[MAD87]

The MT situation is indeed dire. We're lucky in having young doctors in our cabinet here, who often have a student or 2.

The same applies to pharmacies - there are apparently 15k vacancies with no one to fill them and students migratng to 9-5 industrial and laboratory jobs.

Who can blame them? Long hours and unspectacular pay for doctors in the public sector.

Bon rétablissement Liz!

[ajm]

We were very fortunate a few years ago when our MT told us he was retiring and then added that a new practice was going to open with three young doctors - brilliant.