Another penknife in the medical supply of Nord-Mayenne? This is the unpleasant feeling that local elected officials have. From September 1, the Regional Health Agency has decided to transfer the ambulance service from Javron-les-Chapelles to Mayenne. This decision concerns the entire French territory, since the Ministry of Health imposes by decree a modification of the organization of urgent medical transport and their participation in the guard.
A sense of abandonment by the state
Since 2006, three private paramedics have been based in an apartment made available free of charge by the municipality of Javron-les-Chapelles. These ambulance companies provide medical transport for patients from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sending ambulances from Mayenne and no longer from Javron-les Chapelles is a great risk, explains Diane Roulland, president of the community of communes of Mont des Avaloirs. “I will take the example of Lignières-Orgères which is in the north of our territory: from Mayenne, the paramedics will take a little more than 45 minutes in the town of Lignières“.
Since 2006, the municipality of Javron-les-Chapelles has provided an apartment free of charge for the three private paramedics. The transfer of ambulance duty to Mayenne will have unfortunate consequences for firefighters, believes Didier Le Dauphin, mayor of Javron-les-Chapelles. “Firefighters, in my opinion, will no longer be mobilized for possible accidents or fires. I was a firefighter for 35 years. We are already short of arms so if they work at night… The firefighters are volunteers and they also have a job during the day“says the chosen one.
A “balance” to be found
44 elected officials therefore signed a letter to the Prefect of Mayenne, relayed on social networks. Olivier Richefou, the president of the Mayenne departmental council and president of the national conference of fire and rescue services (CNSIS) believes that there has not been enough consultation in this file. “There was a meeting in June. And it was agreed that this main meeting be followed, in each territory concerned, by technical meetings with all the players. Because what paramedics won’t do, firefighters will. And firefighters as much to tell you: they are not drudgery at will. And so, it is necessary to find the right balance in each territory _so that this ambulance service can be provided in the best possible conditions_. With, at the same time, always private paramedics in certain periods, probably during the day. And maybe evenings, nights and weekends with more firefighters“explains Olivier Richefou.
Contacted, the Regional Health Agency has not yet responded to requests from France Bleu Mayenne.