Stéphane Burgatt (correspondent in Marseille), edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 6:36 p.m., February 12, 2024

Liberal nurses have organized snail operations in several large cities in France to denounce a failure to upgrade their profession. In Marseille, Europe 1 met mobilized professionals who consider themselves to be "the great forgotten ones of Ségur de la Santé".

Liberal nurses are fed up with “the impoverishment of their profession”. In several cities this Monday, they organized snail operations to denounce acts of care not upgraded by Social Security since 2009, in a period of inflation. The price of equipment (gloves, syringes, etc.) or gasoline are all expenses that weigh on their wallet. Europe 1 met professionals mobilized in Marseille, who say they are "the great forgotten ones of Ségur de la Santé".

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“The injection is paid for 3.15 euros gross. There is not much left when you think about it”, explains to the microphone of Europe 1 Françoise Fabre, a caregiver who takes part in this operation in the Marseille city. “We haven't been upgraded since 2009, it's becoming very difficult! There are even self-employed nurses who are having trouble paying their expenses because everything is increasing: office rents, Urssaf, pension funds. ..”, lists this caregiver.

Equipment, fuel... Exploding expenses

Faced with all these exploding costs, the profession is no longer an El Dorado, and this has long been regrettable by Jean-Sébastien Nissou, union representative of Convergence Nurse. “Before the Covid crisis, a box of gloves was sold for 3 euros, now it is 7 euros. It has more than doubled,” he emphasizes. "Waste management has increased. I have software that has just increased by 800%, because Social Security wants to do it like that. In fact, we can't do it anymore," laments the trade unionist.

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This is without taking into account the most painful point of expense, when you spend part of your day in the car, like Nicolas. “The fuel budget is 180 euros per week, it’s huge,” he says, noting that he drives 100 kilometers per day as part of his work. Liberal nurses even end up throwing in the towel, and making these caregivers fear the emergence of paramedical deserts.