These establishments “see their functioning deteriorate due to the lack of staff”, warns the a.association of small towns in France (APVF).
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The Association of Small Towns of France (APVF) has questioned the new Minister of Health, Brigitte Bourguignon, on the “very worrying situation of emergency services in hospitals”Wednesday, May 25. “This is particularly serious in a number of hospitals in small towns, which are seeing their functioning deteriorate due to lack of staff”, writes the association of elected officials, chaired by Christophe Bouillon, mayor of Barentin (Seine-Maritime). The APVF cites among others the hospitals of Sarlat (Dordogne), Jonzac (Charente-Maritime), Guingamp (Côtes-d’Armor) or Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), “where activity is completely suspended”.
Brigitte Bourguignon promised Wednesday of the “consultation” with caregivers before taking action “to face the summer” and address staffing shortages. According to the Samu-Urgences de France association, at least 120 hospitals are facing serious operating difficulties. More than half had to resolve to close their emergency rooms, most often partially, due to lack of staff. A dozen had to send the sick to other sites.
“Our hospital system (…) has suffered for years from a purely accounting and financial management of our health system with disregard for patients and the quality of care”denounces the APVF, also referring to the impact of “medical desertification”. “Questions such as the obligation of permanent care for liberal doctors and the regulation of the installation of doctors must now be asked without taboo”defends the association.