In addition to the high-level spread of the coronavirus, there was acute bronchiolitis in infants and particularly strong flu in the elderly. This triple winter epidemic puts an already bloodless health system under extreme strain due to a structural lack of caregivers, who are sounding the alarm.
Health professionals and authorities agree on one point: the situation in French hospitals is critical. Already stressed by nearly three years of coronavirus epidemic, health establishments must also deal this winter with acute bronchiolitis in infants and particularly strong flu in the elderly. And the lack of personnel is more than ever felt.
” The situation is quite catastrophic insofar as there is a huge influx of patients in the emergency services which are absolutely overwhelmed, with the impossibility in many places of hospitalizing patients solely for lack of staff. We are therefore obliged to deprogram surgical and medical interventions for lack of space. “explains Arnaud Chiche, an anesthesiologist in the north of France, at the microphone of Baptiste Coulonfrom the RFI France service.
Arnaud Chiche, anesthesiologist, alert on the emergency situation in France
Arnaud Chiche, anesthesiologist, alert on the emergency situation in France
sacred union
In emergency departments, waiting times are endless for patients. “ In concrete terms, there are people over the age of 80 who spend days and nights in the corridors on stretchers because there are no places to hospitalize them. Do we find that decent? Isn’t that shocking? », says Dr. Chiche.
Faced with this fed up expressed by the caregivers, the authorities call, faced with a ” critical situation », to the « sacred union during this holiday season, in the words of the Minister of Health, François Braun, supported by Amélie Verdier. The director general of the Île-de-France regional health agency (ARS) launched ” a solemn appeal to the liberals, to the private sector so that there is a mobilization of all to relieve the hospitals “.
“There will be deaths”
On Friday, the president, Emmanuel Macron, hailed the ” unwavering commitment ” of the pediatric professionals, promising to address the world of health at the start of the school year. The executive knows he is expected. ” I don’t doubt the minister’s empathy, he knows the situation, he knows the solutions. But if Emmanuel Macron and Elisabeth Borne do not open a huge project that does not only involve money, but reorganization in all places, that will never change. And finally, there will be deaths “Warns Arnaud Chiche.
► Also to listen: Emergencies in crisis in France
(With AFP)