the fight of a retired doctor in Haute-Saône

In Saulnot (Haute-Saône), Patrick Laine, a former country doctor, spent 39 years of his life in his office. Since March 2021, the date of his retirement at age 71, no doctor has replaced him. “I feel sad, especially for the patients, who are really impatient for a doctor to arrive”, he confides. To attract a successor, he bequeathed his equipment and his office to the municipality, a donation of 400,000 euros.

Still active at 74

The mayor (SE), Jean-François Ribière, launched into publicity for the firm. He sent a flyer to the Regional Health Agency and medical faculties. Now, the town has only one general practitioner. For its 750 inhabitants and in the surrounding communities, getting treatment has become very difficult. “To make an appointment, you have to wait three months”, confides a woman. Dr. Laine therefore continues to work, even in retirement. At 74, he travels the roads to see his former patients.