Published on
Updated
Reading 3 mins.
Transfers of children to other regions, deprogrammed surgeries… Faced with the saturation of pediatric hospital services, the bronchiolitis epidemic is the straw that broke the camel’s back. More than 4,000 caregivers co-sign an open letter to denounce the situation. The government responds with an “immediate action plan” which includes an envelope of 150 million euros. Is it sufficient ?
The information has been looping all weekend. More than 4,000 caregivers – 4 1 48 to be exact – and 18 patient associations have co-signed an open letter addressed to the government, to denounce the situation of pediatrics in the hospital.
“After only 2 weeks of usual and predictable winter epidemics, pediatric intensive care units throughout France are saturated, hospital services are overflowing, so-called non-emergency care is postponed and more than 15 Parisian children have been transferred outside the region, in Reims, Rouen, Amiens, Orléans, when their medical situation was critical“ write the specialists.
An untenable situation
Hospital practitioner in the resuscitation and neonatal pediatrics department at the Necker hospital in Paris, Dr. Taymme Hachem is appalled by the situation. “We are facing a serious shortage of staff, beds are closing and we find ourselves faced with a saturated situation, which pushes us to transfer patients out of Paris to ensure their care” he indicates.
Transfers that are not without consequences. “Families do not always understand what is happening, it confronts us with verbal, sometimes physical violence… Not to mention the costs that this causes them to move near their child when the families can, sometimes the children are left alone because their parents can’t go see them, it’s unacceptable on a human level” adds the doctor.
Shortage of staff
What is the reason for this crisis? “The shortage of staff, the lack of recognition of caregivers and the specialty of pediatrics” are the three catalysts that are exploding hospital pediatric wards today, according to Dr. Hachem. “We are short of staff, caregivers are exhausted, they are no longer interested in exhausting jobs, whose working conditions and salary are not there. We should raise the salaries of caregivers, better pay the consultations of pediatricians who are long but poorly paid and recruit staff” adds the doctor.
Government promises
Recruiting is precisely the intention of the government, at least in the words of the Minister of Health François Braun, on the set of BFMTV. The announced plan should allow “an increase in staff, provided that we find them” said the minister. In addition to these potential recruitments, uncertain at the moment, the government has launched “white plans” locally, a crisis device to deal with a massive influx of patients due to an epidemic or a disaster.
The Minister of Health also announces an envelope of 150 million euros for the hospital, and assures that we will take care of “all the children who need to go to the hospital“and also asks parents to avoid”to go to the hospital when it is not necessary” and to call 15 first.
Unsuitable measures
“The hospital has been under water for years and we are going to spend one more winter in this situation” denounces Andreas Werner, pediatrician and president of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics.
“As a city pediatrician, we must respond to the call for help from our hospital colleagues, we are going to reschedule follow-up appointments and other non-urgent consultations, but is this the solution? These children who will see them? We undress Pierre to dress Paul, it’s not acceptable” denounces the doctor, who recalls that France is less well endowed with pediatricians by number of children than other neighboring European countries.
Will the 150 million euros promised change the situation? “No, it’s not a money problem” exclaims Dr. Werner again. “It’s good but the basic problem is the shortage of staff, and the leveling down of pediatrics, especially in liberal”.
Educate parents
What to advise parents? “They have to take their responsibilities and inform themselves. They can consult our Mpedia site where there are sheets on the management of fever, bronchiolitis… Official recommendations that we give them available for everyone to play the game in the face of this crisis”adds Dr. Werner.
As for hospital caregivers, if they denounce irresponsible political inaction, “They will do everything possible to take care of these sick children as well as possible., as they wrote in their letter. Because “betting on children is betting on the futureconcludes Dr. Hashem.