This is a sad record at the Laval hospital. Emergency rooms will still be closed on certain nights. But this time in larger proportions. Eleven nights are affected in April, which has not happened since November 2021 and the start of this crisis. There is still a shortage of doctors to ensure continuity of service. This Friday afternoon, during the traditional minute of silence “for the public hospital” established by Laval caregivers, the atmosphere was heavy.
In a circle in front of the entrance to the emergency room, a dozen citizens are present. Marie-Odile, a retired nurse, is very bitter about what has become of her hospital. “It’s revolting. And even in a retirement home, it’s the same. We are understaffed. And the girls don’t know what they’re going to do for work anymore“. Sylvie, in her sixties, denounces the perverse effect of closing emergency rooms at night. “As a result, the patients do not know whether they should come or not. They are afraid to disturb“ she explains.
Caregivers remain positive
Despite everything, Doctor Vincent Jonquet wants to be optimistic for the future. Young doctors will arrive in the coming months. And despite these closures, the patients are well treated, explains the emergency doctor. “I think there is worse elsewhere. We still manage to provide fairly good support. People don’t spend two or three days in the emergency room, as you can see elsewhere“says this professional. Caregivers who remain positive, but who do not want us to get used to the closure of their service.
Political inaction
Present at the penultimate minute of silence, caregivers at the Laval hospital, Guillaume Garot Mayenne deputy denounces political inaction. “Weeks and months pass and the emergency department closes at night without any reaction from the government (…) As regards human resources, I have alerted the Minister of Health on several occasions. The government’s responses, when they arrive, do not bring any concrete results to strengthen the team of doctors and caregivers“regrets the chosen one.