Are patients of a retiring French GP automatically signed up with new doctor?
It can be difficult to find a médecin traitant in some rural areas
GP appointments are in short supply in France's medical deserts
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Reader Question: My GP told me she is planning to retire in the next year. Will I automatically be assigned a new one, or will I have to find a new doctor myself?
If your GP (médecin traitant) is retiring, there is a chance they have someone who is set to replace them and take over their patients – you can ask them if this is the case, and if so, you will not need to do anything.
If they do not have a replacement however, you are right that it is generally up to you to find a new one.
You have the ability to choose your own GP (you are not locked into a certain doctor due to where you live) however it can often be difficult to find one taking on new patients, particularly in ‘medical deserts’.
There are several places to search for a new GP:
If you are struggling, and if one exists in your area, you can ask for help from an organisation coordonnée territoriale (coordinated territoral organisation), which can take one of several forms, such as an interdisciplinary clinic or health centre, or a local primary care team.
If you visit this link, you can see at the bottom of the page under Près de chez vous if such groups exist where you live.
In the absence of such groups, your local Cpam may be able to help.
It may also be possible to search for an English-speaking doctor to choose as your GP, although again this will be dependent on the area you live.
Read more: How to register with a doctor in France and get a GP
Do I have to do anything to transfer my data over?
If you are able to find a GP accepting new patients, you need to have an appointment with them where you sign a declaration together designating the doctor to the role, as well as informing them about your healthcare situation and needs.
If you have an online Mon espace santé dossier, then this is personal to you and you can give your new doctor access to it.
You should also ask your current doctor if she can transfer over any relevant information from your dossier médical. Remember to do this well in advance of her leaving for retirement.
Read more: Is appointment information automatically added to online French health space?
More information about the role of a médecin traitant in France and how to choose one is available in our health guide, updated for 2025. The guide also covers several other topics relating to health.
It is available to purchase here.
