“Without radio manipulators, doctors cannot work“. The words are those of Claire, in training to become a radio manipulator, “manipulation” as they are called in the hospital. If the shortage of nurses or emergency doctors is known, it is less so for this profession which is little known and yet oh so important for the functioning of the hospital.
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The “manipulation“are the ones who install the patients and carry out the X-rays, MRIs and scanners. They are there 24 hours a day to diagnose the slightest fracture. However, this healthcare profession, too, is under great tension. It is estimated in France that it between 1,500 and 2,000 are missing. There are not enough trained professionals in the schools and some students eventually branch off into other professions.”Imaging is the basis of diagnosisexplains Claire. Its very important. If the radio manipulators are not there, the doctors cannot work since it is we who make the images.”
Matthew Caby, president of the AFPPE, an association which represents radio manipulators, continues: “IToday, there are radiology practice closures over one day or several days. This will slow down the care of the patient and the diagnosis of pathologies. Sometimes even, in the context of radiotherapy treatment, the pure and simple closure of vacations due to lack of staff.“
Cancer patients, for example, will have to wait or postpone their treatment because of a lack of staff. The “manipulation“radio are an extremely rare commodity, confirms Professor Marie-Pierre Revel, specialist in thoracic imaging at the Cochin hospital in Paris:”Our handlers are so precious that we pamper them.“
“We do everything to ensure that they stay and we even pick them up from school by financing their studies. This commits them to staying at least two or three years in public hospitals.”
Marie-Pierre Revel, head of department at the Cochin hospital in Parisat franceinfo
Thus, in addition to being paid for her Bac+3 training, Claire receives a salary during her last two years of study. If she chose to work in the public, private radiology practices also make eyes at students. “My girlfriend, she was offered 3400 net after school working three and a half days a week“, she confides.
This year, the number of technicians trained will increase by 10%. However, with the growing needs of society in imagery, it will certainly take several years and several promotions to overcome the shortage.