Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) treatment in 12 Cardiac surgery clinics in France

I live in the USA and was in Paris for vacation. I developed tachycardia on the flight to Paris, which was completely new for me. It lasted over 3 hours and the flight attendants summoned a medical doctor who told me to be checked in Paris. Necker urgent care was the closest facility to where we were staying. Upon walking into their urgent care area, I felt I was walking into a hospital from the 1940's. It was hot, dark and filthy. It looked like the old asbestos tile floors had not been swept or scrubbed in months (yes, I am assuming they were abestos tiles based on my experience with a similar floor in my home). The windows were filthy as well. Paint on the wood trim around the windows was chipping off. Just beyond the waiting area stood an old fashioned hospital screen on wheels. I had not seen one of those since the 1960's. After waiting for an hour, I lost confidence in what I would encounter with medical care and left. I hope this was a really bad example of a medical facility in Paris. I was told later I should have gone to the "American hospital" which no one had told me about beforehand. My taste of "free medical care" in France was not a good one. I hope my impression of their healthcare system was incorrect for the rest of the country. I do want to point out that I was able to enjoy my time in Paris and loved so many things about it. I am grateful for that experience. I am back home now and receiving good care for the condition I developed enroute to France.

I brought my daughter to this hospital early Sunday morning after she received food poisoning from a five star hotel. The staff was awful. They hire people who can barely speak French. Only the MDs were pros. After waiting for almost three hours I finally stopped a male MD and asked if he could see my daughter. Otherwise we would leave. He did and she was discharged shortly thereafter.

Worst hospital experience ever. Really increased the risk of delivering our son, unnecessarily. For weeks mid wives kept threatening there is a risk and we have to induce labor while all the data show that the infant and the mother are healthy. My wife was constantly stressed. When we ask what risk is there, mid wife just says “death of a baby”. Who uses this word in a hospital when there is no real risk? When my wife did start having a contraction, we went to the emergency service. They made us wait for 7 hours stating they are short staffed. There were actually quite a few staffs but they were checking their phones or chatting. We were disheartened but no one showed an interest, no one came and ask if we were doing ok. I repeat, it was an “emergency service”. After the seventh hour I asked when can we be taken care of. They said “we can’t, not enough bed, not enough staffs today. We will have to put you in another hospital”. Well what were they going to do if I hadn’t asked? Left us there unattended for another seven hours? They slowly started looking for other hospitals. Many were also full but finally there was a nice one available just outside Paris. Necker people said “ambulance will be here in 30 minutes”. Of course it took 90 minutes until we finally got to leave this horrible stupid hospital. Thanks to the nice second hospital, the baby was born in 12 hours after we had moved there, safe and sound. Maybe we just had a sequence of bad staffs at Necker. But for the entire time we commuted there and visited at the day of delivery, unfortunately we hardly met anyone there that cares or even shows a remote interest in patients. .

Excellent quality services and precision !

My first experience of having an angiogram- the staff were very kind and helpful and always with a smile. It makes the situation easier to handle ! Thank you to Doctor Rosencher and his wonderful team !

Disorganized and borderline incompetent: i was sent back and forth between the 2 locations and found in both places incompetent personnel. They are unable to keep to the scheduled appointment and on too of all, no doctor is available to issue the report of the examination. Just plain incompetence, avoid this place.

RIP King Kester 👑

People on whom medicine would have given up a few years ago, or even a few kilometers away, have a very reasonnable chance here. The hospital is second to none in interventionnal cardiology and some of the procedures in which they specialize can only be performed in a handful of hospitals around the world. They are the only hospital in France which can perform pulmonary endarterectomy. I know these facts first-hand, for having had relatives and close people being successfully attended there for life threatening conditions.

My best hospital experience so far - top surgeons and fantastic staff

Zero Stars. This hospital should be shut down immediately. Came in via Ambulance who by the way, pulled over in the middle of the drive so tell me go to an ATM to get cash… Hello my fiancé is dying here… Get to the hospital and immediately get separated and told she can’t have her phone because she’s not in good enough condition… excuse me? Wanted to know when i could see her and translate because she’s japanese and knows very little english… Wasn’t allowed to do that. No status updates, and waited hours with drunk, sick, agitated homeless people for her to walk out feeling no better at all… Nothing positive at all

I have read the other negative reviews and they mirror my esperience. I too was a visitor to Paris from the U.S. I was transported to this hospital after tripping and falling on the sidewalk. I was subjected to blood tests , an ECG and a cranial x-rays and the staff never answered my questions about why the tests were necessary. Just like the others on this site they paid little or no attention to the contusions on my face or my clearly apparent swollen wrist- no ice packs or wraps. After waiting in the ER for approximately 6 hours after arriving I informed the doctor I was leaving. She became angry , said they were busy and she asked that I remain in the ER for another hour to await the test results. When I refused she told me to leave. When asked would someone assist me with finding a taxi to return to my hotel, she just walked away from me. I will have my doctor look at my wrist when I return to the U.S. If I could have given them a zero or no stars I would have done so.

A visitor to Paris, I had a fall and hit my head on some steps. I was taken by ambulance to this hospital. Ambulance I could fault, spoke English and was very caring. Different matter when they dropped me off at this disgusting hospital. I have spent time in a hospital in Ghana West Africa, third world, it was streets ahead of this filthy disgusting hospital. There were no redeeming features, staff awful and rude. They would not let my husband accompany me so I was on my own with people who spoke on English. Took blood without gloves or washing hands. No access to water and was told I was very dehydrated, hello where do I get a drink, when I asked for water was told this is not a hotel. Many X-rays,scans, reports ( 7 hours) I walked out. They initially would not let me out but I made such a fuss they let me go. I did not pay a cent. I have now arrived back home in Australia and I find a bill waiting for me. I m not going to pay it they should be paying me for the trauma I endured. I had a fracture in my hand and they totally ignored that, went to a pharmacy and they bandaged it up for me. I would be prosecuted if I took my dog there. Thankfully this did not spoil my visit to Paris.

My doctors were helpful, skilled, professional and provided me a lot of information. After operation services and information is complete with high priority to the after operation services. The urgence for post opération patients was fast and of full service. The nurses when I came before the operation were too busy, they let me in, gave me my wrist tag and gave me 3 medicines but let me waited 2 hours and no one came back to me to update me that the operation will within 2 hours of waiting . I came at 8h50 and the actual operation is at 11h15, in between the waiting hours, no one has came to re assure me and update me of the schedule that made me nervous and worried for 2 hours. All nurses were so busy that morning and talks a lot to each other without double checking or just to give a quick short words to me for 2 hours in the waiting room before the Anesthesist picked me up. Thank you.

I was very well looked after for my first pregnancy. The team was superb, whether it was for the pregnancy follow-up, the day of the birth or the aftermath of the birth. For this alone I say bravo! But above all, I love the student nurses we met, who were full of compassion and kindness, much more than the nurses themselves. I don't give 5 stars because there is still a lot of room for improvement: - at all my pregnancy follow-up appointments, the wait always lasted more than an hour even though we were told to arrive 30 min before the appointment 🙄 - cold administrative reception - a lady at the analysis laboratory shouted at an old man who didn't understand the process (taking a ticket, waiting etc.) when he had just asked nicely what to do - we were scared when our baby was born, that he couldn't latch on, that he was going to starve to death, that we had to go to the osteopath...when a few days later our baby gained weight. We didn't understand the point of scaring us so much when in the end everything was going well.

I am impressed with the level of the hospital, attitude of medical and medical care. Grateful my surgery was handled here with great professionalism. Merci bien!

Good doctor, good behavior. Satisfied patient.

I got to see two fabulous doctors, the first in emerg and the second in cardiology (who confirmed the original diagnosis). Both were extremely caring and knowledgeable. I felt in good hands. Minus a half star for the long wait to see the first doctor (but triage ekg was quick so I guess it wasn’t urgent). Minus another half star for the filthy, seatless public toilet for the waiting room but bonus point for the outstanding quality of the doctors.

You doctors who work in the Pitie Salpetriere hospital, bow your heads to the ground and beyond, for all those children's souls, whom you do not stop from their straight and fast path to earth. May all the joys with which you spoil yourselves, turn you into ashes, and let your empty souls shatter like the lives of the innocent, whom you leave daily prey to their suffering, evil and disease, without trying to save them, although their last hope it was with you. And we are not talking about terminal cases, but about people who can be saved easily, if you ONLY tried! World top 10 hospital: an advertisement for nothing!!! You shouldn't even be in the top 3 of a pitiful city, forgotten by the world! Great doctors who don't even see the patient, just sign to be discharged, and hide behind the reception, because you are busy. With what? Did you destroy the next man's life? How many people do you dust a day? Do you have a commission from cemeteries? Change all the staff! You made terrible recruiting mistakes! Give them difficult cases, without them knowing that they are being tested, and see what "doctors" you have! The rest, take their diplomas and useless documents and start sweeping the street, don't let them have the power to turn good people into dust!

A large hospital dating from the 70s, partly renovated, with many specialties and relatively correct care but very uncertain depending on the services as in many public assistance hospitals in general... We can therefore go there from heaven to hell, often with adorable and caring teams in intensive care or intensive care units and other totally overwhelmed teams with little regard for their patients because they are understaffed in many others services...

On the 3rd floor Orthopedic department: Caregivers, nurse, friendly staff overall 👍 Arthrodesis + laminectomy operation Dr Solène Prost service teacher Tropiano All the pain went well and was well treated. 5 days hospital Return home for 4 weeks to recover peacefully. Then start of physiotherapy rehabilitation.

I was taken to the Urgences here by ambulance and I have never had such an awful experience. The nurse who was looking after me was completely cold and uncaring despite the fact I has a blocked intestine and was not only I’m agony but kept blacking and vomiting. At one point when he saw me vomiting he said “don’t you think you are exaggerating a bit”! It took 6 hours before I had a scan and in that time I was left alone and given no blanket despite being soaked in sweat from the pain. When I finally went upstairs to the operating theatre, the experience was much better. I know this hospital has some great doctors and the surgeon who operated on me did an amazing job. My criticism is uniquely directed at the a&e “urgences” here which is just not good enough. All the staff were uncaring and cold and I felt scared and abandoned which is not what one should feel in hospital. Sorry, but a little more humanity would mean less stress to patients!

Today we visited the allergy department with our child. I really liked the service. The doctor spoke very nicely with my child. The inspection was good. We did an allergy test. Everything is fine and I'm very happy😊

My husband received wonderful care at A&E and intensive care after experiencing a heart attack on holiday last October 2022. Speedy treatment and attentive nursing while in CHU for two weeks prior to repatriation to the UK. Could not have had better treatment. A huge thank you to the doctors and staff who looked after him. We are very grateful.

My brother Christopher had the most excellent care in accident and emergency for a pulmonary embolism. I know he is very grateful to the drs and nurses that night. They were kind caring and amazingly speedy to diagnose and find a medication. Compared to the normal experience in the U.K. the French system that night was incredible and they also called him back for a check up in a week, again with an amazing dr so sympathetic, that would be two to three months in the U.K. The staff treated him with dignity and compassion. A massive thank you to all there

The Family Planning and IVG service is incredible, I recommend 100% Welcoming, smiling, attentive and open-minded care. I made an appointment for a contraceptive consultation and the installation was done the same day. I was also offered to do STI screenings directly and even given the opportunity to discuss it with the counselor/psychologist available in place. Highly recommended !

I think one of the best hospitals in terms of "gynecological emergencies", good care, less waiting and the staff is friendly. I met a gynecologist who took care of me really TOP. on the other hand the level 2 nurses, not all of them but the good ten that I had to meet who wanted them to explain my whole situation in front of everyone when it's not easy and they didn't care, I found their attitude quite a pity but really this hospital is TOP.

Very warm welcome at the nuclear medicine department, the nurses, doctors and receptionists are all very empathetic and smiling. What a pleasure to be cared for and taken care of like this when I imagine that it must not be easy for them every day. Perfect 👍

I had a planned ORL surgery with Professor Mirghani and his team, the team was very professional and I am very happy with the results. I had a good experience at the hospital which is modern and comfortable.

I was recently hospitalised for an operation, I found the doctors and nurses very kind however the people at reception are not friendly at all , particularly this lady, probably in her 50s with vision glasses on. I approached her to help me with the information to avail the taxi service ( which a patient is entitled to and is being paid by Social security) and since my French langage skills is not good, I opted to talk to her in English, she could converse in English but she kept arguing with me that I am lying about not being able to speak french. Even though it’s not her job, I choose to be nice and insisted that I am not comfortable in speaking French, she asked me for my cart-vital just to prove her point to me that I have lived enough time in France to be able to speak French. Instead of helping me find a taxi, she kept arguing and accusing me of lying. I was in pain and could not stand there arguing with her so I opted to just leave after letting her know that she is not being nice. I could still hear her arguing and probably cursing while I was leaving. Later, I regretted not noting down her name so I could complain to the management of hospital. A lady probably in her late 50s, of black origin and wears vision glasses ( explaining her features since I didn’t write down her name) I hope not other patients have had the same experience.

I went in via the emergency room as I had severe stomach pain. Although it took until the evening to get me admitted, the doctors, nurses, and other staff were kind and attentive. I have to say I was very hesitant to go in due to the reviews. I even held on to the pain for two days. But my experience wasn't entirely bad.

Excellent staff of internal medicine: after many months looking for a diagnosis, they were the first and only to listen, study my symptoms, and find the cause in a rare illness, before sending me to the appropriate structure in Cochin. The structure is modern and clean; 5 stars also to the chef: the good food made my weeks there more pleasant.

Saw the emergency room in the middle of the night, waited less than half an hour, it was quite fast, the doctors and nurses were very caring, and there was even breakfast, although it was simple.

My anesthesiologists were playing Joanne while putting me to sleep. Great and kind staff. Very positive experience.

Meeting with Doctor G Lefebvre, I was received like a king, secretary, the doctor and the nurse who took my blood test very welcoming and very very simple I have never had such a welcome in a hospital from Valenciennois...It's good to see that there are people who love their job..Thank you..

Dated, small, unwelcoming rooms. Unpleasant staff, you have the impression of annoying them all the time. You have to beg for information or even get angry to get it. Little consideration of the patient, their pain, their dignity. In our time, this is unacceptable.

Followed since 2011 in Professor Pattou's department, the only hospital where I feel calm when I know that I have a hospital appointment even if it is currently for IVs and injections 🤣. A really great team. More than adorable nurses. Thank you very much for your kindness, your listening and your good hearts, you are all at the top 🥰🥰. All hospitals should have your patience and sympathy ❤️