On September 18, the three general practitioners practicing in the commune of Bucquoy, aged 61, 62 and 67 respectively, announced their retirement on October 31. For two of them, this departure was not known. Following these simultaneous cessations of activity, nearly 4,000 patients must find a treating physician.
In this context, the regional health agency (ARS) and the Artois Health Insurance (CPAM) in conjunction with elected officials (Bucquoy town hall, community of communes of South Artois) brought together all stakeholders (health professionals in the sector gathered within the territorial professional health community (CPTS) of South Artois, order of physicians, Artois-Ternois hospital group, agricultural social mutuality) on September 25 at Bucquoy town hall. The purpose of this meeting was to take stock of the situation and identify short and medium term solutions that can be found to preserve access to care in the area.
The stakeholders have committed to doing everything possible to maintain a healthcare offering by creating the conditions for the continued employment of retired doctors and the establishment of new doctors who would be interested in practicing in the area.
The ARS and the CPAM have indicated that they will receive, in coordination with elected officials and the CPTS, all professionals who come forward in order to support them individually in their project (search for premises, link with existing health centers, financial and tax assistance) regardless of the desired mode of practice (liberal or salaried practice, full-time, part-time or shared).
Immediately, work is being undertaken by the CPAM of Artois with the CPTS of the sector in order to direct patients without a treating physician to professionals in the sector. This will involve finding a solution as a priority for patients with ALD who are most in need of regular medical monitoring.
In the short term, the recruitment, training and deployment of medical assistants will also be promoted in the region in order to support the twenty or so general practitioners in the sector in their daily work, and to enable them, as much as possible, to welcome new patients. The offer of university internships (welcoming general medicine interns) will also be expanded in the sector.
A monitoring committee bringing together all the partners has been set up under the aegis of the ARS to ensure operational and regular monitoring of the situation and the solutions implemented until the territory has found a sustainable offer adapted to the needs of the population.
