Anglophone doctor plea in Dordogne

English-speaking residents in the Dordogne have launched pleas for a new doctor as one of Eymet’s four GPs is soon to retire and he is one of only two who can speak English and the other is 73, and past retirement age.

British expats are said to make up 10% of Eymet’s population and tourism raises this enormously each year with many visitors unable to speak French but able to speak English.

Mayor Jérôme Betaille said he will “target the France Show in London in January” to lure a doctor to the south-west.

Retiring GP Michel Séjourné said ads by the Maison Rurale de Santé and the mairie had failed as most doctors were in couples and needed work for the partner but he felt appeals to the UK could succeed as EU doctors looked to move before Brexit.

Local resident Clin Bond said several people were trying to raise funds for an advert in the British Medical Journal but that costs could reach €3,500.

It comes as a study found France has a record 226,000 doctors, up 10,000 from 2012. However many prefer salaried posts to being independent GPs.