Are you in Paris and need medical attention from a doctor, dentist or other healthcare professional but prefer an English-speaking doctor?
Getting sick or hurt is never fun, but it can be doubly stressful in France if you don’t speak French fluently or understand the French healthcare system.
Finding a healthcare professional with whom you can communicate effectively is important for a doctor to accurately understand a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and concerns.
In situations like these, it may seem challenging to find an English-speaking doctor in Paris, but with the right resources and a little effort, it is possible to find English speaking doctors and another healthcare professional who can communicate with you in English.
Are there English speaking doctors in Paris?
While doctors and other medical professionals, such as dentists and opticians working in France, are not required to speak English, some have a basic or advanced understanding, especially in big cities and touristy areas.
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to find an English-speaking doctor in France because strict regulations prohibit healthcare professionals from advertising or emphasizing their services based on their language proficiency.
How to find an English-speaking doctor in Paris
Here are various methods you can use to locate a doctor in Paris who speaks English.
At the very end of this article, I’ve also included a map of some doctors, hospitals and pharmacies known for having English-speaking staff.
Telemedicine / Teleconsultation
Teleconsultation allows individuals to get a prescription online and discuss their medical issues with doctors and other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists and even dermatologists, without having to do an in-person office visit. Communication is handled remotely through video calls, phone calls, or online messaging.
If you’re interested in connecting with an English-speaking doctor online using Telehealth or telemedicine services, you can find one on Mobidocteur.eu
Find a doctor near me and ask if they speak English
In Paris, there are many doctors and clinics available that may speak English, but as I mentioned, they don’t openly advertise this due to strict rules and regulations in France.
The quickest way to find out if a doctor speaks English is to find one on Google near your location and call and ask them.
Here is how to ask for an English-speaking doctor in French.
- Bonjour, est ce que vous avez un médecin qui parle anglais.
- /Bon-zhoor, ehss kuh voo zah-vey uhn mehd-sahn kee parl ahn-glay?/
If you’re staying in a hotel, you can ask the front desk to find one for you too.
Your embassy or consulate in Paris may have a list
Many countries with consulates in Paris, such as the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, maintain a list of medical professionals who can speak English.
For example, the websites for the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in France and the Australian Embassy of France have running lists of hospitals, doctors, dentists and other medical professionals who have informed the embassies that they are sufficiently competent to provide services to English-speaking patients.
Hospitals and clinics in Paris that have English-speaking medical staff
There are several hospitals in Paris that have bilingual staff or staff who speak enough English to help patients who don’t speak French or who prefer to converse in English.
American Hospital of Paris (Hôpital américain de Paris)
The American Hospital of Paris is a well-known English-speaking hospital and teaching hospital for locals and expatriates.
Address: 55 Bd du Château, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine (in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris)
Métro: Les Sablons
Tel.:+33 1 46 41 25 25
Make an appointment online
Centre de Santé Colliard (Colliard Health Center)
Health centers in France typically provide a range of healthcare services. The Colliard Health Center has the following medical professionals under one roof: Oral surgeon, Pediatrics, General practitioner, gynecologist and obstetrics.
Address: 4 rue de Quatrefages ( 5th arrondissement of Paris)
Métro: Censier-Daubenton
Tél.:+33 1 85 56 00 00
Centrecolliard.fr
Hôtel Dieu de Paris (Hostel of God)
Address: 1 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II (4th arrondissement of Paris.)
Métro: Cité
Phone number: +33 1 42 34 82 34
Make an appointment online
Although “Hôtel” means “hotel” in English, in this case, it does not refer to a hotel as we understand it today. The name reflects the original purpose of “Hôtel-Dieu” hospitals, which were originally founded and run by the Catholic church to provide care for the sick, poor, and needy. Hôtel dieu hospitals can be found in many French-speaking countries. In France, there are around 10.
Hôtel Dieu is now a public hospital and one of the oldest in Paris that dates back to the 7th century. It’s located on the Île de la Cité near the Notre Dame cathedral. Many famous people have received medical treatment from this hospital, including the American actor Rock Hudson and Bette Davis, who died in the hospital on October 6, 1989.
Foch Hospital (Hôpital Foch)
Address: 40 rue Worth, 92150 Suresnes
Tram stop Line T2: Suresnes-Longchamp
Tel:+33 1 46 25 20 00
Make an appointment online.
Hôpital Foch is located in the city of Suresnes, which is a suburb just west of Paris. In 2020 and 2021, Newsweek ranked Foch Hospital as one of the world’s best hospitals based on data provided by Statistica.
Hôpital Franco-Britannique (Franco British hospital)
Address: 3 rue Barbès – 92300 Levallois-Perret
Métro: Levallois-Perret
Tel:+33 1 46 39 22 00
Make an appointment online.
The Franco-British hospital, formerly the Hertford British Hospital, was founded between 1872 and 1879 by Sir Richard Wallace to treat British nationals in and around Paris.
Today, the Franco British hospital is open to everyone and has a special service exclusively for English speakers who need general medical consultations located at 3 rue Barbès.
International Medical Center in Paris (Centre Médical International Saint-Germain)
Address: 72 Boulevard Saint-Germain (5th arrondissement of Paris)
Métro: Maubert-Mutualité
Tel:+33 1 77 12 39 46
General medicine: strictly by video or teleconference call in Paris.
Dr. Jacques Guedj speaks English, Spanish, Hebrew and Russian and provides general medical consultations only via teleconference calls.
Centre médical Saint Martin (Saint Martin Medical Center)
Address: 12 rue du Faubourg Saint Martin (10th arrondissement in Paris)
Métro: Strasbourg Saint-Denis
Tel.:+33 1 42 00 20 20
Centre médical Saint Martin
The Saint Martin Medical Center has medical specialists for almost everything and takes walk-ins for dental and medical emergencies without an appointment. They have staff that speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish and English fluently.
Ask your insurance provider for Assistance:
If you have travel insurance or international health insurance, try contacting them to see if they can help find an English-speaking doctor in Paris for you. They often have resources and contacts to help policyholders find healthcare professionals in their destination country.
Ask a pharmacist
I recommend visiting a French pharmacy for non-emergency medical issues before calling the doctor’s office. Pharmacists are highly trained and have the authority and qualifications to give general medical advice, diagnose, and prescribe medication for certain common illnesses and injuries, such as diarrhea, cuts, sprains, and eye infections.
Many pharmacists, especially ones located in big cities across France, such as Paris, with large expat communities and many tourists, are used to dealing with English-speaking clients.
If the pharmacist can’t help you, they may be able to help you find an English speaking doctor in Paris.
Here is a list of pharmacies in high-traffic areas of Paris which cater to the local community and English-speaking clientele.
La Pharmacie de l’Opéra – British American Pharmacy
1 rue Auber in Paris in the 9th arrondissement,
Métro: Opéra metro station (exit 3 – Rue Scribe).
Pharmacie Anglaise des Champs Elysées
62 Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris 8th arrondissement.
(130 rue de la Boetie)
Métro : Saint-Philippe du Roule (ligne 9)
Pharmacie Anglaise de la Gare du nord:
2 rue de Compiegne in Paris 10th arrondissement
Métro: “Château d’Eau
Anglo American Pharmacy
37 Avenue Marceau in Paris 16th arrondissement.
Métro: Alma-Marceau (line 9)
Map with English-speaking doctors in Paris + hospitals in Paris with English-speaking staff
Below is a map using some of the resources I listed above of pharmacies, hospitals and doctors in Paris who speak English. It’s by no means a complete list, but it is a good starting point to find dentists and general practitioners.
