UK NHS Direct inspires France

A national health information service, inspired by Britain’s NHS Direct, could be established in France.

Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot wants people in France to be able to use a dedicated website and phoneline, similar to the 24-hour advice scheme that has been successful in the UK since its launch in 1998.

Speaking at a hospitals event, Hôpital Expo, she said a new website would be “the first port-of-call to give patients and health professionals the information they need to more easily choose the health services that meet their needs best.”

An accompanying phone helpline would also be set up.

The idea could free up out-of-hours services and hospital emergency departments, the minister believes.

Le Figaro quoted one of her staff, who said: “We are taking inspiration from the British model – for years the site and phone number for NHS Direct, that everyone knows, even children, has been responding to health questions and the site NHS Choices allows you to choose a clinic or hospital.”

The minister has set up a group to study the idea, with initial conclusions expected later this month.

At Hôpital Expo Mrs Bachelot added that her latest plans for better healthcare access also included helping different health professionals group themselves into mutidisciplinary clinics.

Doctors’ body the Ordre des Médecins has been pressing for this, saying that newly-qualified doctors are deserting independent practice because they feel too isolated.

The minister said 250 new health centres would be financed and put in place by 2012.

The order has also been encouraging individual doctor’s practices to have their own websites, while stressing they must not look too much like adverts. Doctors – like many French professionals - are not supposed to advertise.

They say the sites should be serious-looking, without personal case studies, with tariffs listed and contact with patients limited to them making a normal appointment.

The order recommends practices seek HON (Health On the Net) accreditation - a Swiss quality mark.

Photo: besoindair/flickr