About Me
Jan 21st 2009
Physiotherapist Living and Working in Les Gets, Morzine and St Jean d’Aulps
Hello, some information about me. I am a Scottish Chartered Physiotherapist,I have been living and working in Les Gets, Morzine St Jean d’Aulps and in and around Haute Savoie, France for over 3 years now.
I obtained my BSc with Honors Degree in Physiotherapy, in Edinburgh, qualifying in 1996 and worked both within the NHS and private sports injury clinics quickly after qualifying.
I, as with many ex pats here fell in love with Les Gets, a ski resort in the French Alpes, next to Morzine, after a skiing holiday in 2001 and finally made the leap to live and work here in 2005.
The process of Registering my degree in France was laborious, however, eventually I obtained my Authorisation, after yet another dossier to register in the Department of choice, namely Haute Savoie, I received my registration Number.
I spoke some French before coming, however, the first 3 months saw a steep learning curve. I was lucky to get a job within a local Cabinet, (Physio Clinic) and worked for them as a locum, whilst they were on holiday, that enabled me to get to know the area and of course try out my French on the locals, they were kind and corrected me regularly, but not too severely.
Time has marched on and now nearly 4 years later I work for myself in the Winter season as a domiciliary physio around many of the chalets and apartments within this area, treating mainly ski related injuries and providing Sports Massages for the tourists within their chalets and apartments in Les gets, Morzine and St Jean d’Aulps to name but a few.
I locum the rest of the year in Cabinets all around the area, treating everything from babies with bronchiolite to neurologic patients, virtually all French, occasionally I get to speak english.
Finally, if you feel you need to consult a physiotherapist or would like a sports massage whilst in the area, hopefully you will give me a call. However, if for some reason you find someone else, please check that your physio is FULLY registered in France as you would not be covered by their insurance otherwise, being registered here means that all our qualifications are up to date and we are fully insured.
A bit of background info, the title “massage” is a protected title here, as is the title “physiotherapist” in Britain now, therefore, only qualified, fully registered physios (Masseur Kinésithérapists) to give them their full title, working in france are allowed to massage or give physio. I am one of the few Registered here with all the legal bodies, including the Minister de la Santé, the Ordre of Masseur Kinésithérapeut, Departement of Securite Social, ADELLI and the CPAM, lots to do and pay, but you are sure you are fully insured when I treat or massage you, its simple to check, each physio has a unique registration number, beginning with 74 in haute savoie, you can ask to check it with the above organisations or contact the local Doctors Cabinet in Les Gets for a referral. I am also still registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists in Britain, so no problem if you need to claim some insurance back.
Stacey on 24 Jul 2009 at 3:35 am #
Hi Gail,
I am a British physio hoping to work in the alps this winter, initially with a massage company and then hopfully finding some physio work too.
I’d be really grateful if you could let me know how you went about getting registered to work in france, I’ve been searching the internet but its all a bit confusing!
Do you find that there is enough work for you?
Thanks – any help would be much appreciated!!
Gail on 03 Aug 2009 at 1:51 pm #
Hi just checked my blog, To be registered to work in France, firstly you have to send lots of paper work to the Minister de Sante department in France, they have papers to help you and speak english. I had to send detailes of all the hours for my degree over the 4 years and all the courses afterwards. It takes about 6 months at the most.
When registered with them you can work in France, but need then to register with the department you choose, here is Haute Savoie in Annecy, another dossier and a day visit with all your paperwork, you then get a number to work in France.
There is plenty of work, but the system here is odd either you are private and work when you want, but you are not allowed to charge what you want! the state sets a meesly 15.30€ per seance! or you can work with hospitals etc, but the salary is even less.
The one thing for sure is that you are not allowed to do even massage in France, even just in winter, without being a physio or registered in France, they are at the point of starting to take people to court, including the beauticians who massage.
Hope that helps.
Gail Heatley
Jacqui on 10 Sep 2009 at 5:39 am #
Dear Gail,
I read your blog with great interest about obtaining registration here in France. My application for Permanent work is currently pending, but its taking such a long time and there seems to be only one point of contact who deals with the first stage of recognising my UK qualification in the Paris office. You mentioned that there were some papers and a contact who spoke English that you dealt with -could you by any chance remember who you dealt with and where I could find a copy of the papers? I already have the CSP document – ‘Working in France’ and information from the World confederation website, but a simplified version of the procedure and contacts would be greatly appreciated.
All the very best for your continued work in the Alps.
Kind Regards,
Jacqui
andrea on 12 Sep 2009 at 10:57 pm #
Dear Andrea,
I don’t know if there is any official need to speak French to work in France. However, apart from the initial Authorisation de Exercise, obtained from Paris, thereafter, all the contacts for paperwork is done in French, so I think questions might be asked as to how will you work. Working with purely English clients is ok in winter, but will not pay all the charges for the year I think, so some work with French may be necessary.
Hi Gail, was it a requirement of registration in france that you spoke french already?
Sara on 30 Sep 2009 at 6:00 pm #
Dear Sara, thanks for your comment, the current organisations to report illegal physios working in France is either the Ordre de Masseurs et Kinésithérapeuts or the Minister de Sante, stating the Department (eg haute savoie) which you are interested in.
Thanks for your information about working legally as a masseur in France. I am currently aware of a few therapist who are working somewhat illegally in France. For the sake of the therapists like yourself, who do take the time and effort to register and get the correct insurance, I would like to report these therapists to the correct authorities for further investigation. Would you be able to give me some contcat details for the people I would need to speak to please?
I have had some bad experiences in the past with these therapists and would like very much to stop it happening to somebody else in the future.
Kind Regards
Sara
kate on 16 Oct 2009 at 10:20 am #
Dear Kate,
Some info for working in Morzine this winter, unfortunately, the system here is such that it is not possible to come to work seasonally. You have to be registered as I have explained earlier. Imagin if someone wanted to do physio in Britain, the organisations they would have to contact. The massage in France is under the same constraints as the physios historically where the only ones allowed to massage. In short if physios do massage in the ski resorts in France, even via British companies as employees, they are still breaking the law and could be deported!
Hi Gail,
I’m really interested in working out in Morzine winter 2010-2011, and would be grateful for any information you could give me on clinics I could work in and how to start the french registration process.
I adore Morzine, and to be able to work as a physiotherapist out there is my idea of heaven!
Thanking you in anticipation.
Kate
alfonsogu on 16 Dec 2009 at 6:53 am #
Hi Gail,
I´m a Spanish who live in Morzine.
I require physiotherapy in Mozine because i have a injury in my foot.
I tried to contact in your phone but is out of service.
Can you send me a emai, please.
Thanks
Gail on 18 Dec 2009 at 7:54 am #
Dear Alfonso,
Hope you are taking all my advice, hope to see you next on the pistes.
Gail on 18 Dec 2009 at 7:55 am #
Dear Kate,
Look on my page for the reply I had forgotten how to reply directly. Gail
Gail on 18 Dec 2009 at 7:55 am #
Dear Sara,
Look on my main page, for a reply, I forgot how to reply directly. thnks Gail
Sophie Brewster on 20 Jul 2010 at 5:47 am #
Finally a bit of info I can use. Planning to start practising this winter in the 3 valleys. Was considering setting up a small Uk based company with just me practising to start with.
I have ITEC qualifications which is internationally recognised. It’s in Sports and remedial masage as well as Holistic sweedish massage. I’m keen to work along side local GP’s Physio in the area.
I would like to get myself registered towork and practise correctly. Sounds like it takes time and money so want to start now!! Is it less expensive
and complicated for a simple Sports and massage therapist?
Thank you for all your fasinating comments so good to get some guidance at last!! Do you have to apply face to face or can it be done on line? Do you have an physio contacts in 3 valleys? Any help on getting this sone correctly would be awesome.
Kind regards
Sophie
katie clough on 22 Jul 2010 at 10:39 am #
Sophie
Im actually planning on moving out to france this year to La Tania in the 3 valleys. The main physio company out there are Ski Physio you will find them on line but they employ people as massage therapists themselves. They have been inundated with applications this year. I applied myself but did not get the job so i’m going to work for another chalet/hotel company out there and do some physio for myself self employed. We could help each other out.