Public hospital: start of an indefinite strike in the emergency room of the Rouen University Hospital

Europe 1 with AFP 6:53 p.m., December 27, 2021, modified at 6:54 p.m., December 27, 2021

The emergency staff of the Rouen University Hospital on Monday began an indefinite strike to protest against the deterioration of their working conditions and the lack of human and material resources, we learned from concordant sources.

The management of the establishment evaluated the rate of strikers at "24%, according to the rules of the civil service".

The notice was filed by CFDT, CGT, Sud and FO.

"Monday morning, the rate of strikers is 100%, the striking agents are assigned and therefore work, this concerns about fifty agents", told AFP Frédéric Louis, secretary of the CFDT section of the Rouen University Hospital.

38 strikers out of 158 according to the CHU

"We have 38 strikers identified out of 158 agents in the service. It is quite important. There is a mobilization of the agents which is not negligible and to be taken seriously", indicated to AFP Bertrand Cazelles, general manager assistant to the CHU, recalling that the white plan was triggered two weeks ago in the establishment. The difference with the figures provided by management is explained by the fact that the latter accounts for all staff, including non-caregivers, according to Mr. Louis.

"The Regional Health Agency must become aware of the difficulties of the public hospital. Apart from recruiting, there is not much to do," said the trade unionist.

According to Frédéric Louis, around fifty beds are closed throughout the CHU, due to recruitment difficulties and around forty nursing positions are not filled.

"All this leads to disorganization in the emergency room. Colleagues in the emergency room are overwhelmed by patients who are stagnant due to a lack of beds," he explained.

"Particularly critical situation"

"We are in a particularly critical situation", admitted Bertrand Cazelles, evoking "a very great tension on emergencies".

"We have patients who stay too long in the emergency room for lack of downstream beds available. All levers are mobilized to try to recruit. To cope, we widely use the system of increased overtime. This has enabled us to close less. more beds than expected in the first simulations, ”he added.

An emergency nurse from the CHU, who wished to remain anonymous, hopes for his part that emergency caregivers "are not called in to plug holes in other services, leading to the recruitment of temporary workers, who are less effective, to emergencies".