The lack of space in French hospitals has been a recurring problem for decades. As health system reforms and budget cuts continue, thousands of beds are being cut. For hospital staff «It’s a scandal» that compromises admission capacity and quality of care.
The flu epidemic this year in France is particularly virulent. Hospital emergency services are overwhelmed. For example at the hospital in Perpignan or doctor Jean-Philippe MICALEF, head of the Emergency Department, evokes the problem for this hospital of the increase in hospitalizations per day. Interview with the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol TOURAINE, who asks all hospitals, if necessary: "...to deprogram medical, surgical activities...to free beds...". For Patrick PELLOUX, of the Association of Hospital Emergency Physicians of France, it is necessary: "Reopen beds...".
As every summer, many hospital beds are closed in France. This year, the heat wave is creating an overactivity in the emergency services. They are struggling to find beds in the appropriate services for all patients. Example at the Robert Ballanger Hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois. Doctor Ahmed HAMOUI, from the emergency department, explains by showing some files: "These are the people who will stay, for a while, outside a conventional service, to be more clear, they will stay on a stretcher in the corridor". These are in his words "virtual" beds. Further on, he says: "The fact that we do not have beds behind, sometimes we are led to make a decision that may not be the same as if there were beds".
The Balladur government announced measures for future health system reform. Among these measures, the conversion of 22,000 hospital beds. At the University Hospital of Montpellier, dozens of beds are planned for economic reasons. The doctors are against it. Interview with Professor François-Bernard MICHEL, President of the CHU Montpellier Medical Commission: "Doctors believe that in terms of bed reductions we have reached the maximum...".
Small local care structures do not appear to be cost-effective for Headquarters. It plans the closure of about 1500 beds in hospitals in Burgundy. The objectives are to standardize the length of stay and take into account the occupancy rate of the beds. Virulent reaction of Dr Pierre GALLOIS, doctor at the Centre Hospitalier de Macon: "It is sadly an inability of some French organizations, the Social Security or some ministerial services to understand the particularity of local hospitals...today, I say I accuse, without hesitation...". Interview with Guy CHENNEL, director of the hospital in Tournus, who explains the consequences of the closure of medical beds in his hospital.
Reactions of René TEULADE, former Minister of Social Affairs and honorary president of the French Mutuality, to the project of reform of the health system wanted by the Balladur government. In particular, he spoke about the financing of the health system and the closure of hospital beds, which he wanted to see gradually: "We had planned a gradual transformation of 6,000 beds a year...so now 22,000 beds at once...".