“This summer, we can have deaths”: Philippe Juvin warns of the situation of hospitals in France

Europe 1 10:43 a.m., May 28, 2022

Questioned by Jean-Pierre El Kabbache, Philippe Juvin, head of emergencies at the Georges-Pompidou hospital and LR mayor of Garenne-Colombes, alerted to the situation of hospitals in France.

"In all hospitals in France, there is a shortage of staff. Two days ago, in Chinon, there was only one nurse in the emergency room who was not on sick leave. It is an extremely difficult situation. serious," he said at the microphone of Europe 1.

"We think the summer is going to be very difficult and if nothing is done, I don't know how we are going to spend this summer. We can have deaths," he also added.

According to the doctor, "there are services today that operate with few doctors, few nurses, few nursing auxiliaries. There are operating theaters that are closed. There are people who "We can't operate. That's the reality of the healthcare system. For years, it was said that the French healthcare system was the best in the world. This is obviously no longer the case."

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According to Mayor LR, the situation is likely to be particularly difficult this summer: "If we don't change anything during this summer, we can have deaths. I know places where there will be holes in the lists of guards. There are a few days ago, while there are approximately 700 emergency departments in France, there were 100 or 120 which totally or partially closed emergency departments that were closed. never seen it done"

“Terrible working conditions”

Philipe Juvin also painted a portrait of the difficulties of French hospitals: "What do you call a system where you can take weeks to be operated? And you can take weeks to have an additional examination and you have to go to the emergency room because you don't have an alternative when you don't have a doctor in town?"

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“Everyone works in an absolutely insane way for poverty wages and in working conditions that are terrible. I believe that the backbone of a reform of the health system is to first take care of the caregivers” , delivers the doctor.

Danger for maternities

In addition to emergencies, the emergency doctor also alerted to the situation of maternity services: "I know places where there may not be enough midwives to deliver babies this summer. So yes, I'm telling you , the situation is very serious. There are solutions that must be put on the table".

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"The three types of pathologies that we treat late today and for which we will be late are cancer diseases, heart diseases and psychiatric diseases. These three types of pathologies, we are currently falling behind to take care of them”, also declared the head of emergencies.