Published on
Updated
Reading 3 mins.
The movement of hospital paediatrics continues. Following the lack of response from the government, the doctors decided to march to the Elysee Palace to bring their demands directly to Emmanuel Macron. A delegation will also be received by the Minister of Health François Braun, in the afternoon.
“The situation is catastrophic. This morning in the emergency room of the Antoine Béclère hospital in Clamart, we have eleven children, including three who are in intensive care, for only six beds available” comments Professor Vincent Gajdos, from the hospital’s pediatrics department. “We have still carried out four transfers of children, outside Ile-de-France, so that they are taken care of in other pediatric intensive care units”.
A more than tense situation
To denounce this recurring situation, caregivers from the Pediatrics Collective are going to the Elysee Palace this Wednesday, November 2 to deliver a “warning letter” addressed to the President of the Republic.
The delegation left Necker Hospital at 10 a.m., as confirmed by Dr. Julie Starck, pediatric resuscitator in pediatric and neonatal intensive care at Trousseau Hospital, reached by telephone at that time. “We are on the way from the Necker hospital to the Elysée, to hand-deliver our open letter to Emmanuel Macron”. Indeed, following the announcement of measures planned for next spring, the specialists have united to write to the President of the Republic with a list of proposals to be put in place immediately.
The caregivers were received by Katia Julienne, health adviser to the President of the Republic. “We were received for more than an hour to explain the problems encountered on a daily basis: caring for patients in the corridors, moving fragile patients to free up intensive care places…” reports Dr. Julie Starck. “We had the feeling of being listened to. But the adviser simply promised to report our proposals to Emmanuel Macron, no deadline, no return from the President of the Republic has been promised” laments the specialist.
Salary increases, adaptation of the number of beds, etc.
Among these proposals, there is first of all respect for the ratio between caregivers and open beds in critical care, “with an increase in the target workforce to 120% of the number of expected staff”. Salary increases and the payment of critical care bonuses to all caregivers working in the sector are also part of the demands of specialists. Just like the number of beds, “to be adjusted to the population pool” say the pediatricians.
second mail
This is not the first letter that doctors write. In this article, we have already mentioned the open letter published in Le Parisien on October 21, in which caregivers denounce the deterioration of their working conditions, the glaring lack of staff and the weariness that has won them over for far too long. , results of “irresponsible political inaction”, according to specialists.
Consequences of this crisis
In addition to the deterioration of the care provided to children, the Collectif Pédiatrie also denounces in a press release the poorer care of chronically ill children, by ricochet: “It is no longer possible that children suffering from chronic diseases or cancers are considered as the permanent adjustment variable, in the face of banal winter epidemics”.
However, caregivers have few illusions, as Dr. Gajdos reminds us: “This epidemic is comparable to that of last year. The problem is unfortunately postponed each year. We have a health system in total decline, insufficient staff… We are waiting for the government to do something, even if we don’t really believe in it anymore.”
150 million euros on the table
For its part, the government has already made some proposals for hospital paediatrics. The Minister of Health, François Braun, thus announced the release of 150 million euros for “hospital services under tension” therefore not exclusively for pediatrics but of which it is certainly a part.
He also spoke of the implementation of an “immediate action plan” and promises “paediatrics meetings” for the spring of 2023. The Minister of Health is also to receive representatives of pediatrics this afternoon.
Announcements from the Minister of Health
After receiving the delegation of doctors, the Minister of Health spoke of a “worrying situation” linked to an epidemic of “bronchiolitis”. François Braun has therefore announced that all caregivers working in critical care services will be able to benefit from the “critical care bonus” put in place during the Covid. This was one of the demands of paediatricians, because child nurses were hitherto excluded.
In addition, the Minister also mentioned the doubling of the remuneration of night hours for “all hospital staff” until March 31, in order to “recognize the commitment of professionals” and “the hardship of the night work”.