“This is particularly serious in a certain number of hospitals in small towns which are seeing their functioning deteriorate due to the lack of staff”, writes in a press release the association of elected officials, chaired by Christophe Bouillon, mayor of Barentin (Seine-Maritime).
120 hospitals in difficulty
The APVF cites the hospitals of Sarlat (Dordogne), Jonzac (Charente-Maritime), Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (Gironde), Guingamp (Côtes-d’Armor) or Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), “where the activity is completely suspended”.
On Wednesday, Brigitte Bourguignon promised “consultation” with caregivers before taking measures “to cope with the summer” and respond to the shortage of personnel. According to the Samu-Urgences de France association, at least 120 hospitals are facing serious operating difficulties. More than half have had to resort to a closure, most often partial, of their emergencies, due to lack of staff.
A dozen had to resort to load shedding, that is to say, to send the patients back to other sites.
“Our hospital system […] has been suffering for years from a purely accounting and financial management of our health system with disregard for patients and the quality of care”, affirms the APVF, seeing in the saturation of emergencies an effect of the “medical desertification” which is striking certain territories.
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