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Chest or Throat Infection in France? Here Is How to Get Medical Advice

A chest or throat infection that develops while you are travelling can leave you feeling significantly unwell — and knowing whether you need antibiotics is not always straightforward to judge yourself. I am Dr Simon Gordon, a British GP (MB ChB) registered with both the GMC and the Ordre des Médecins, and based in Valbonne on the Côte d’Azur. Cabinet Medical Gordon has been providing English-speaking medical care in the South of France for over 30 years.

After assessing your symptoms I can advise whether antibiotic treatment is appropriate and, where it is, email you a French prescription (ordonnance) the same day. You can collect your medication from any French pharmacy immediately.

How it Works

You book a video consultation using the link below. I will ask about your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, whether you have a fever, and any relevant medical background. I will give you an honest clinical assessment of whether antibiotics are likely to help and, where they are, email you a French prescription. You take that to any pharmacy in France and your medication is dispensed on the spot.

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What I can assess and prescribe

I can assess chest infections including bronchitis, throat infections including tonsillitis and strep throat, sinusitis, and related upper and lower respiratory conditions. I can prescribe antibiotics, cough suppressants, throat treatments, and anti-inflammatory medication where clinically appropriate. Not every chest or throat infection requires antibiotics — I will give you an honest assessment based on your symptoms.

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This is the right question to ask. Many throat and chest infections are viral and resolve without antibiotics. I will take a full history of your symptoms and advise you honestly. Where antibiotics are clinically indicated I will prescribe them. Where they are unlikely to help I will explain why and advise on supportive treatment instead. Some patients may need a physcial exam, an X-ray of further testing.
The consultation fee is €100. This covers the video consultation and the emailed prescription. There are no additional charges.

Many travel insurance policies cover urgent medical consultations abroad. I can provide a receipt and clinical summary for your insurer. I would recommend checking your policy before the consultation if you are unsure.

Please call 15 (SAMU) or go to the nearest emergency department if you are struggling to breathe, have chest pain, are coughing up blood, have a very high fever that is not responding to paracetamol, or feel severely unwell. For infections where you are unwell but not in severe distress, a video consultation is an appropriate first step.
France has a full range of antibiotics and respiratory treatments available nationwide. I will prescribe medications that are readily dispensed in French pharmacies, and will note any French brand name equivalents on the prescription where relevant.

About the Author

This page was written by Dr Simon Gordon MB ChB, a British-trained GP registered with the General Medical Council (UK) and the Ordre des Médecins (France). Dr Gordon trained at the University of Glasgow and has over 20 years of experience in general practice across the UK, Israel, and the French Riviera, including time at the London Clinic on Harley Street. He is based in Valbonne on the Côte d’Azur, where the clinic he works in  has been providing English-speaking medical services for over 30 years.

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Dr Simon Gordon, British GP in Valbonne, France
This page is for informational purposes only. Dr Simon Gordon (MB ChB) is registered with the Ordre des Médecins in France and the General Medical Council in the UK. All consultations are conducted in accordance with French medical regulations and the deontological rules of the Ordre des Médecins. This service does not replace emergency medical care — if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 15 (SAMU) or 112 immediately.