While the Christmas and New Year celebrations arrive, the emergency rooms of the Draguignan hospital center are still closed from 8 p.m. every evening. A situation that has been going on for almost two months already. On site, the mobilization of employees and elected officials of the Var continues.
Since October 29, 2021, the inhabitants of Draguignan and all of Dracénie can no longer go to the emergency room at night after 8 p.m. For lack of enough doctors to run the service (there are only 6 out of 18 needed), they are asked, except for absolute emergencies, to call 15 or go to other services. emergencies like Fréjus or Brignoles.
Priority to doctors
A situation that will not change for the holidays. The hospital has just spread the message on its Facebook page, by encouraging users to call their doctors as a priority, and by giving the list of medical on-call centers in the Var.
A call also relayed by the prefecture of Var a few days ago. Especially since the Covid-19 epidemic continues to progress in the region.
“The hospitals are in an extremely tense situation. However, the calls received on 15, 18 or 112 do not all relate to emergencies. Many of these calls could first be treated by city medicine. The demands for medical transport are also very important. However, these should be reserved for people who are not able to travel without medical care. In this difficult period for everyone, and especially for the staff of hospitals and emergency services, everyone must be responsible.“, specifies the prefecture in its last press release.
Investment plan of 12 million euros
However, on December 16, Olivier Véran, the Minister of Health, announced 12 million euros to restructure the Draguignan hospital. As part of the Ségur de la Santé, this funding should allow the renovation of hospitalization units for surgery and medicine and their harmonization to 15 beds.
“A major upgrade of the operating theaters will be carried out with the upgrading of the premises, the improvement of the organization, the integration of the obstetrical unit and the bringing together of the outpatient surgery unit. Finally, the emergency department and critical care department, as well as psychiatric care and medico-social activities will also be reorganized.“also specifies the document published by ARS PACA.
Ségur de la santé in the Var | Focus on the Draguignan hospital center
ℹ️ The overall restructuring of the site aims to move towards an integrated city / hospital vision, in connection with the medico-social sector
???? more info: https://t.co/2r9yjwFDfX pic.twitter.com/o0blBxf3Lc– ARS Paca (@ARSPaca) December 20, 2021
In parallel 3.8 million euros will be released to reduce debt in the Dracénie hospital. Very significant funds for the central hospital of Dracénie, which will therefore be modernized.
But not enough to solve the emergency crisis which is sorely lacking in doctors. For 2 months, more than a dozen have been missing to keep the emergency department running normally. “These funds are obviously welcome, but they are only intended to do work. This is not what will unblock the crisis in the emergency room“, regrets Frédéric Duthe.
The mobilization continues
For their part, the employees did not disarm and continued a protest movement launched upon the announcement of the night emergency closure.
The “Urgences Hôpital Dracénie” collective, made up of trade unions (CGTCGT, FSU, Sud-Solidaires), associations (Ciné-debates citizens, citizens’ collective Gilets Jaunes, LDH, Secours Populaire, CADAC) and political organizations (EELV, GRS, LFI, NPA , PCF) meets every Friday at 8:30 p.m. in front of the emergency room. He also organized a demonstration in the city center on Saturday, December 4.
More than 5000 signatures
At the same time, the collective intends to mobilize the population to make things happen. Thus, a petition calling for the rapid reopening of emergencies was successfully launched. At the end of December, it has just passed the symbolic bar of 5,000 signatures. “ People signed on the Dracénie and Haut-Var markets, at Les Arcs station and at our workplaces. The population affected by the closure of emergencies is worried. People do not necessarily come to gatherings but express their concern by signing and having the petition signed.“, explains the collective in a press release.
Mobilize the population, but also the elected representatives of the territory. “We sent a motion to 90 mayors, 8 deputies and 4 senators from the Var“explains Frédéric Duthe, of the CGT Santé. According to the collective, the municipal councils of Cabasse, Draguignan, Les Arcs, Lorgues, Ramatuelle, Seillans, Villecroze, La Martre, Flayosc, Tourtour, Montferrat have voted motions for the reopening of emergencies Other municipalities are preparing to do so, as the municipal council meetings are held.
Some mayors also came during the demonstrations, such as those of Salernes or Lorgues. The AMF du Var and several deputies have taken note of the situation.
But for the moment, no reopening of emergencies in sight, for lack of recruitments of sufficient doctors.
Events during and after the holidays
Never mind, the mobilization of the collective will continue during, and even after the end of the year celebrations.
This Friday, December 24, “an aperitif of struggle” is scheduled at 6.30 p.m. in front of the emergency room. “It’s symbolic, to show that we do not let go, just before the holidays! “, explains Frédric Duthe. The mobilization will then resume at the beginning of next year.
January 4, 2022, at 2 p.m., the employees will meet at the hospital roundabout “to wish us a happy new year, and above all, health!“they say with irony.
Finally, on January 11, a torchlight retreat “against a tattered hosto“is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. in the city center of Draguignan.
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