Poitou-Charentes Health, Fitness & Beauty

Information for parents with young children moving to or living in France: infant and child health matters (the carnet de sante), private and state facilities for out of school activities, child benefits and financial aid, and school traditions.

Information on what to do if someone dies in France and how and where to report the death. Also how to arrange a burial in a French cemetery; a cremation, and where you may scatter ashes. Plus how to repatriate the body of the deceased to their home.

Information on the E112 form for EU residents seeking medical treatment in another EU country. Where to obtain the form, when it's required, how it's different from a European Health Insurance Card and what kind of care is covered.

Emergency services: the numbers to call for Fire, Police and Ambulance. Also sea rescue, drug help, poisons and emergency doctors and hospitals.

Where or how to find a physician: general practitioner, paediatrician, gynaecologist, dentist or orthodontist in Poitou-Charentes who speaks your language.

Launched June 2004, the "Health Card" is for EU residents to use to access medical resourses when travelling outside of their EU country of residence.

Information on the health and risk situation in France with links to government sources of information (in French), the Info Grippe hotline and further English-language links.

Information on the French medical insurance system, the CMU and top-up insurance (or mutuel) and the purpose of a carte vitale: how, where and why to register in the system

Comprehensive list of English terms for everything from parts of the body to common sicknesses, aches and ailments - and their French equivalents. Also a dictionery of terminology for a visit to the dentist.

A simple guide the various Social Security organisations in France - their responsibilities and what they do for you in sickness, unemployment, maternity and pregnancy, retirement and other times of financial need.

Information and links to daily French government information on the heat warnings and water restrictions for the summer season.

Child abuse, drug problems, HIV/AIDS, Red Cross, info for the homeless - your contacts in France.

The role of the referring doctor in France: how to select and nominate a general practitioner or other specialist to be your family doctor.

Resources - mostly in French - for disabled: wheelchair bound, physically disabled, hearing or sight-impaired members of the community. Information on government aid and social security organisations, non-profit organisations and parking facilities.

The administrative details you need to know if you are giving birth in France. Who to contact and what to expect from the French system throughout the pregnancy and the post-natal period: maternity leave, midwives, vaccinations and the Livret de Famille.

Explanation on the qualifications and training disciplines you can expect from psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts practising in France.

Find out who qualifies for disability benefits in France, called Allocation aux adultes handicapes (AAH), and how a legal French resident can apply for assessment and financial aid from CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales).

Information on the laws of February 2007 and January 2008 concerning the banning of smoking in public places in France: schools, public transport, hospitals, administrative buildings, office buildings and youth recreation areas. Find out more.

This page provides a very useful alphabetical guide explaining terminology used in the French Social Security health insurance system. Find out what is meant by Forfait journalier, Frais de soins or Mutuelle.

Information on IVG and legal, safe abortion in France. Find out when and where it may be performed, who qualifies for this procedure and how to arrange it. With details of the French family planning organisation, hospitals and health centres for IVG.