The general director of ARS Occitanie had promised to appoint a director for the Bagnères-de-Bigorre hospital. This has been done. On the other hand, the scanner file does not seem to be assured for the moment.
The association “Save the B2B hospital” met the new director of the Bagnères-de-Bigorre hospital, Godefroy Wackenheim, on September 2, 2024. The association “Save the B2B hospital” was represented by Alain Amaré, Bernard Aragnou, Lucette Braquet, Sonia Depierre Bulhe, Yannick Le Cardinal and Aitor Ortiz.
The members of the association take stock after this meeting: “At his request, the new director of the Bagnères-de-Bigorre hospital wanted to meet with us. In fact, he was just appointed to this position on July 1, 2024, while there had not been a dedicated director at this hospital for years.”
Very quickly, the important topics for the members of the association were discussed. “The new director admitted that his appointment is the result of all the mobilizations of the population organized by our association. He made clear to us his desire to be a director with autonomous power over the management of the establishment, while not being able to have control over the emergency department in partnership with the Tarbes hospital.”
Rehabilitation center beds to reopen by June 2025
Regarding functional rehabilitation, good news was announced by the director: “The director’s desire to maintain all hospital services was highlighted, in particular the cessation of closures of functional rehabilitation beds which impacts the survival of the hospital economically. On this subject, we were able to note a vision similar to our objectives. It should be noted that 60 beds had been closed during the last period. The director announced their reopening between October 2024 and June 2025.”
Financing the scanner in question
Regarding the scanner and MRI file, it is less reassuring: “The director shared his concerns with us about its financing. We therefore gave him, during the meeting, the official documents attesting to the commitment of the ARS and the prefect of the Hautes-Pyrénées to set up the scanner initially, then the MRI later. We were able to discuss this subject. The financing is the responsibility of the ARS, which must provide it or supplement it from the moment it officially committed on October 4, 2023, by a letter from the director of the ARS, Mr. Jaffre.”
The general director of ARS Occitanie, visiting Bagnères-de-Bigorre, announced his agreement to install a scanner at the hospital in the spa town.
Emergency services: still concerns
Finally, the subject of the emergency service was discussed with the members of the association: “We gave our opinion on the functioning of the emergency services: its management by calling 15, as well as the existence of a service without doctors, with only nurses with very limited possibilities of intervention, were debated. This operation does not give any satisfaction and was the subject of discussions. Indeed, when users have a medical problem, calling 15 almost systematically directs them to Tarbes, which has the consequence of emptying the attendance of the emergency service of Bagnères and of clogging up the emergency services of Tarbes, with unacceptable treatment times. Our association believes that it would be more effective if users went directly to the emergency services of the hospital of Bagnères to be treated according to the seriousness of their case, and thus allow the sustainability of this service. In this exchange, we noted that this situation seriously endangers the very existence of an emergency service at the Bagnères hospital. The reduction in attendance caused by the 15 regulator (national decision), which directs patients to Tarbes, has a strong impact on the economic situation of the Bagnères service. On this point, we insisted that the director be able to have control over the recruitment of emergency doctors without going through the Tarbes hospital, which shows limited willingness to free up doctors for Bagnères.
“Vigilance is essential”
The members of the association are satisfied but will remain vigilant: “The meeting was cordial and constructive, but vigilance is required. We will be able to collaborate if the hospital’s development objectives continue.”
