in Lorraine, doctors are divided between small and large maternities

Léa was born on Sunday May 8, in Toul (Meurthe-et-Moselle). “We wanted a family maternity ward, which was smaller to really have a listening team”, explains Cyrielle Farrugia, her mother. On the day of her delivery, for lack of an anesthesiologist, she was almost transferred to Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle), located 30 km away. Recruitment difficulties concern anesthesiologists, but also obstetrician-gynecologists. The Toul maternity unit can remain open because doctors share their time between Nancy and Toul.

“It allows me to empower myself in a context that is a little less stressful”, explains Fanny Guiquel, junior gynecologist doctor who works part-time at the Toul maternity hospital. This maternity sees the birth of 400 babies per year, against more than 2,800 in Nancy, where the regional maternity is located. She manages the most difficult situations, which is interesting for doctors. “We continue, with the fact of being in the CHU, to have an activity and research and intellectual and at the same time practice in the field”, explains Sophie Harter, obstetrician-gynecologist at the University Hospital of Nancy.