Three protesting caregivers tell us what they expect from “Ségur”

• Two weeks after the big demonstration on June 16, some caregivers took to the streets on Tuesday to shout their anger.
• Three days before the end of the Ségur de la Santé, a vast project developed around only six weeks of negotiations, many of those we interviewed did not hide their disillusionment.
• Worn as heroes during the coronavirus crisis, they do not have the impression that politicians heard the urgency of the situation for the public hospital.

"Resources for the hospital, not for capital". In front of the Cochin hospital in Paris, a few thousand caregivers again beat the pavement on Tuesday to voice their demands, three days before the end of the Ségur de la Santé. Six weeks of discussions supposed to overhaul the healthcare system and go over the requirements of both the public and the private sector.

After the announcement, last week by Olivier Véran, of an envelope of 6.3 billion euros for the salary increase (6 billion for non-medical staff, 300 million for doctors), anger is not fallout. At least among caregivers who have mobilized again. When asked what they expect from this "Ségur", which should lead to announcements by Emmanuel Macron next week, they do not hide their bitterness.

Applause while passing in front of the royal port and its poster "on strike" and "save our premature babies" #soignants pic.twitter.com/l62j07gdPV

• Hélène, 34, neonatal resuscitation nurse

Humorous signs but a lot of disillusionment a month after the launch of these negotiations on our health system. - O. Gabriel / 20 Minutes

“I would like this recognition that fell on us during the health crisis to be translated into action. And in particular by a salary increase. We are underpaid for what we do. Here we are in front of the camera, so it's time to enjoy it. The 6 billion envelope makes a big number. But I don't know how many we are, if that takes into account the employers' and social charges. I want to know what I will have more on my payroll, if I will be able to stay with my family in Paris. If it is 20 euros per month, we are very far from the 300 euros requested by the groups.

And anyway, it doesn't change our working conditions. Today, I don't even have one chair per child's bedroom, so when a mother has to breastfeed her premature baby, it's the cross and the banner… We don't even have enough breast pumps! During the coronavirus, we gave doctors the means to decide to run their service and we realized that it worked. So let's continue to trust them! We heard a lot of announcement effects, so we're a little on the reserve. And then confidence is broken, even compared to this "Ségur". When the government tells us that everyone has been treated because we have increased the number of intensive care beds, this is not true. Despite this effort, some patients could have been saved if more resources, equipment and preparation had been available. "

• Tristan, pediatric intern in Ile-de-France

During the caregivers' demonstration on June 30, some of them told us their hope three days before the end of Ségur. - O. Gabriel / 20 Minutes

“At the end of 2019, I was really shocked to see that we had to transfer children outside the region to treat them in neonatology. Parents, in the most horrible context there was, therefore had to drive 2 hours each day to be by their hospitalized child… "Thanks" to the Covid, unfortunately, general awareness is waking up on our working conditions, so It's been more than two years that we have been trying to make people understand that the public hospital is dying. Before, we had had no response. I have had rather positive discussions. But we were lied to so much that I lost some hope.

There is a huge problem with the remuneration of nurses and nursing assistants. But also doctors, even if it's a bit complicated to complain because we make a better living. But the flight of doctors to the private sector is a concern for patients, for research ... I find that there is a real nonsense about night work. One day, during a call, I realized that the 35-year-old senior doctor, who was responsible for all pediatrics, was paid 100 euros less than a nursing assistant who came in for reinforcement. Night duty for a doctor is five times better paid in the private sector than in the public sector. I said to myself "it's not possible, you really have to go private". And it is true that the dilemma exists when one is a young doctor, between making a better living or remaining attached to the public. Fortunately, we support each other a lot between caregivers and we are very invested. This is probably why politicians find it difficult to release funds for us who love our job. But I hope that this time, the state has understood that our health system is on the brink of loss. "

• Karine, 49, night care assistant at Robert-Debré

Karine shows her anger and her expectations to save the public hospital, our - O. Gabriel / 20 Minutes

“The State finds 150 billion for companies and only 6 billion for caregivers… The increase in wages has been owed to us for decades. And that will not prevent the caregivers' burn-out. If there is a second wave of coronavirus, this time we will have the necessary equipment, but not the staff. It is frightening to see the number of caregivers who resign. Unfortunately, this “Ségur de la santé” is a travesty of negotiation since several unions have left the table. After launching that we were heroes, they treat us like soldiers who are supposed to obey orders. I think the political choice has already been made. By separating the salary increase from the doctors, they divide to rule better. And where does the patient appear? The debate is limited to wages. But the problems are much broader. For example on the premises. I had participated in meetings to carry out work in my hospital. As a result, the architect did as he pleased and we cross the garbage room with meal trays ... which do not even have a lid. And afterwards, I am responsible for hygiene!

We must think about the health of tomorrow. Unfortunately, we are moving towards American-style privatization. Already today, what does not make money is not quantified. For example, a mortuary toilet is not counted and yet it takes time. I did not choose this job to have the impression at the end of my shift of having done my job poorly! Much has been said about the aggressiveness of patients in the emergency room, but it is the healthcare system that is malfunctioning. This morning, a dad said to me "bravo for what you do" when he had waited twelve hours in the emergency room with his daughter for a simple fracture… We are low cost caregivers in the audience and we are asked to work , not to think. However, we do not ask for much, just to be treated with Humanity with a capital H as a public hospital, which is our common good. "

Society

"Ségur de la santé": The hospital takes to the streets, to ask for a few billion more

Health

Mobilization for the hospital: "We must make it felt that there is a whole people, the one who applauded every night, behind these disgruntled caregivers"

Maintain pressure

After the success of their mobilization on June 16 (100,000 to 180,000 demonstrators according to sources), the unions and hospital collectives intended to maintain pressure on the executive on Tuesday. The tonnage was however clearly lower, with half the number of rallies planned (a hundred throughout France, according to the CGT) and a decline in participation: several thousand demonstrators in Paris, at least 1,200 in Lyon according to the prefecture, between 1,600 and 3,000 in Nantes, 700 to 1,500 in Montpellier, 200 to 500 in Clermont-Ferrand, 500 in Grenoble, 200 in Strasbourg, a few hundred in Dijon.

• Demonstration
• Olivier Véran
• Nurse
• Hospital
• Society
• Doctor
• Health