four years after the closure of his maternity ward, a town still isolated

It is a small sub-prefecture of Indre, far from any big city. So peaceful, that we almost forget the fight that took place there in 2018. The White maternity hospital closed its doors four years ago, despite the mobilization of its 6,500 inhabitants. In 2018, this maternity unit carried out less than 300 deliveries per year. Nathalie Gesnin was six months pregnant at that time. Today she looks back on her delivery in Châtellerault (Vienne), more than 50 minutes away: “We were preparing what to do if we gave birth in the car”. The pregnancy finally comes to an end and the delivery is planned.

Evelyne Poupet, director general of the Châteauroux-Le Blanc Hospital Center, says the closure is linked to security and the lack of nursing staff. Some local elected officials, having resigned after the closure of the maternity ward, still do not believe in this version and point to financial motivations. Evelyne Poupet did not wish to take stock of the situation. Since 2018 and the closure of the maternity ward, six deliveries in the car or at home have taken place.