No problem.
Here goes;
If you are on a very low income or anykind of benefits, you are registered with the VIPO system, then like me you would pay 5€ for a consultation. There are also Polyclinics here which can be used by refugees etc,, we have thousands here all wanting to go to the UK.
All prices are set by the state no matter which doctor, hospital you use.
Most areas, Communes have local hospitals 2 here they all have A&E and ambulances, so you would be taken to the hospital closest to you. There is one just 10 minutes walk from me where DGS was born and I have had 2 small operations there. It is a state hospital and the service was excellent.
I chose the one i am going to for this op as my Cardiologist is based there and it is where I had the heart op.
Anyone will be treated regardless of financial position my X never ever registered for health insurance after the divorce and when he had a massive epileptic siezure he was treated immediatly and very well.
I know he had to pay for that and had the cheeck to moan about it and even ask me to pay.
The food is great, different every day, not boring at all, fish on Friday and even steak(cooked to your taste) on saturday or sunday.
On Sunday morning croissants, and the evening meal of salad is always different, last time I was 3 weeks and never got the same twice.
I am a Chef and know that Hospital jobs are in demand.
Depending on your circumstances there are top up fees for hospital stays this is means tested so if you can't pay you don't, if you can then most people are very glad to, it is not much.
A lot of employers here pay for their workers health insurance.
I had a bad fall 9 years ago, dislocated my shoulder, split the bone vertically and knocked two small pieces of bone out of the done at the top of my arm. DD called an ambulance, equivalent of 999. arived with a doctor within 7 minutes, I was taken to the local hospital 4 mins by ambulance, 11.00pm, within an hour i had been xrayed and saw the on call Orthopeadic specialist.
It was a Friday night.
Of course you can wait longer but you will be assessed immediately and you will see a specialist if required.
There is no difference in costs in Private or state, in fact it is hard to tell the difference in the hospitals.
All hospitals have specialists in each category, inc MRI scanners etc.
You may be sent to another hospital in the group if your consultant thinks it is required.
One little anecdote, when i was having my heart op, I had an angiogram 3 days before, I was told to say in bed that night so needed a bedpan. i rang my bell and the doctor on duty on the floor that night arrived. I explained and asked for a nurse. A couple of minutes later he re-appeared with bedpan and a toilet roll.
Told me to ring when I was finished. he was absolutely gorgeous and I was mortified.
He just said the nurses were busy so he did it himself.
I hope some of this helps sorry if it is a bit disjointed DGS is helping me to cook for a friends birthday party, sausage rolls.