in Chignon, the inhabitants have neither emergency nor maternity

For 15 days, the inhabitants of Chinon (Indre-et-Loire) have found the door closed when they arrive at the emergency room of their hospital. The majority of caregivers are on sick leave, most for exhaustion. It is a blow for the inhabitants, who are sent to the hospitals of Tours (Indre-et-Loire) and Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), a 45-minute drive away.

The maternity ward is also closed. Laura Sallard, 25, is eight months pregnant. She was to give birth in Chinon and the prospect of having to take the road urgently worries her. “Aren’t we gonna have a baby coming down the road?“, she wonders. The general practitioners of the city are also worried. They fear that the closure of the emergency room will cause a delay in the care of patients and fear to find themselves on the front line. Tuesday, May 31, 28 of the 32 emergency care workers are still on sick leave, so the service remains closed until further notice.