more than 10% of maternity wards are in “partial closure”, according to a union

Code red in maternity wards. At least 10% of the 460 French maternities are in a situation of “partial closure” lack of caregivers and sacrifice pre- and post-birth activities to focus on childbirth, said Friday, July 1 the union of midwives ONSSF and the associative collective Santé en danger.

The figures are undoubtedly lower than the reality: out of 461 maternities, 122 responded to the survey conducted by the ONSSF and Santé en danger between June 1 and 26, and 49 “declare partial closures”that is “40% of respondents”specify the two organizations in a press release.

Due to a lack of sufficient staff, these establishments have reduced the wing: suppression of consultations (monitoring of pregnancy, ultrasound), “stop birth preparation classes”even “neonatology bed closures”of “pathological pregnancy service” or even “full wing of bed suites”.

Pointing the “replacement difficulties” liberal midwives during their summer holidays, the ONSSF and Santé en danger warn that “the offer of perinatal and gynecological care will be reduced this summer” and deplore the “degraded procedures (which) have repercussions on the care of women and newborns”.