This Wednesday morning, around 300 came from Albret to have gathered in front of the Smur de Nérac. Together, they expressed their refusal to see the emergency department close for five weeks.
“It’s irresponsible”. Aged 76, Any uses strong words to describe the closure of the Smur (mobile emergency and resuscitation structure) in Nérac. Due to lack of personnel, the branch will close for five weeks from Sunday, 25th, until 30th August, inclusive. A decision that worries in the Albret and that the inhabitants refuse to undergo.
Any and Guy, her husband, took part in the important rally which took place in front of the Smur de Nérac on July 21 at 11 a.m. The alley in front of the entrance to the establishment quickly becomes crowded. Some organizers estimate that nearly 300 people have swelled the ranks. Among them are the city councilors of Albret, including Nicolas Lacombe, mayor of Nérac. “We have come together to express our refusal, we ask the ARS to do everything possible to save the Smur antenna in Nérac,” he said. “Already having a Smur antenna means that you are at the lowest level in terms of first aid, so if first aid disappears, there is nothing behind it.”
The same afternoon, the latter went to Marmande to discuss with his colleague, Joël Hocquelet. “He is in the same situation although less degraded. We will see what follow-up we will give to this legitimate movement,” he said. “Whatever the cost, we have to find doctors who are on duty in the emergency department.”
“It’s a disaster”
A woman calls out to him. “It’s the same problem in all departments,” she inducted. In her thirties, Gaëlle is a doctor at the Montauban and Moissac hospital. “Unable to be able to recruit emergency physicians, they are in the process of closing the Samu de Moissac branch. It closes it regularly for 24 hours.”
Nicolas Lacombe follows suit: “Only rich hospitals pay more expensive guards.” Gaëlle nods: “Exactly. It’s a scandal because you have temporary workers paying a fortune and it ruins the hospital. In short, it’s a disaster. It is important that emergencies continue in towns like Nérac and Moissac. ” Originally from Nérac, she took part in the mobilization. “The private sector recruits more easily than the public. However, it is the public who brings the healthcare offer closer to the population.”
Chairman of the users’ committee of the Agen-Nérac hospital, Pierre Bonnet also visited the scene. Before arriving on site, he says he spoke with Isabelle Martin, director of user relations. “There are three issues,” he says. “A territorial reality: Lot-et-Garonne does not attract nursing staff. […] The second reality is sectoral. […] The hospital has two sites and it had to make the wisest choice to run one of its departments at 100% of its capacity. In terms of traffic volume, the Agen site was chosen. The third reality is that of the nursing staff. The closure occurs in August and it is no coincidence, there are periods of leave. The staff are going on leave. Negotiations had been started to postpone the holidays. But there was no favorable receipt. ”
One gathering calls for another?
These alleged realities, the CFDT identified several weeks ago. “We gave the alert since June 15. At the beginning it was on the Chic MT (intercommunal hospital center Marmand Tonneins), because it was the only information we had, then Nérac was grafted”, confides Angélique Marmié, responsible for the public sector of the CFDT santé sociaux 47. “We knew that with the arrival of summer, the situation was going to worsen. It is a complicated period in terms of personnel and because with the ‘arrival of holidaymakers, there are a lot of people. “Palliative solutions have been put in place but no lasting ones”.
A mobilization in front of the ARS could take place this weekend announces the union. In terms of unions, FO was also mobilized this Wednesday morning.
Away from the crowd, Any and Guy look dubious. In the event of a new gathering, they will be present again. “All public services are disappearing from Nérac,” laments Any. She who grew up in Bordeaux is worried: “When I arrived, there were all the services: surgery, maternity …” Guy continues: “Now we have to go to Agen. One day, we will have to go to Toulouse or Bordeaux “. In the meantime, it is the Smur d’Agen which must intervene to replace that of Nérac during August.
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