Bourges, France – Activity at the Centre Hospitalier (CH) de Bourges slowed in 2025 despite increased hiring and the opening of modern services, hospital leadership told APMnews. Outpatient activity decreased by 3%, a decline partially offset by a slight 2% increase in full hospitalizations.
The hospital’s financial deficit rose to “a little more than 5 million euros” in 2025, up from under 5 million euros in 2024, with annual expenses totaling 238 million euros. The hospital attributed the increased deficit primarily to intensified recruitment efforts since 2023. Over the past two years, the number of doctors has increased by 52%, and the number of vacant non-medical positions has been halved, according to the hospital.
In 2025, the hospital recruited 36 physicians, offsetting 19 departures, largely due to retirement. Eighty nurses were as well hired, though 24 nursing positions remain vacant, including 12 night shifts. This represents a significant improvement from June 2023, when 70 nursing positions were unfilled.
Several new units came online in late 2025. A polyvalent intensive care unit (Usip) and a dental center were inaugurated in September 2025, representing a 1 million euro investment, half of which was funded by the regional health agency (ARS) Centre-Val de Loire. The new dental center features three chairs, a substantial increase from the previous single chair capacity, and occupies 400 square meters.
The hospital also opened its Maison des Femmes-Santé (Women’s Health House) in December 2025, connecting it to the emergency services of other hospitals within the Cher territorial hospital group. The new service includes a forensic doctor, a general practitioner, a gynecologist, a midwife, a psychologist, a nurse, a social worker, a medical secretary, and a health manager. As of February 10, 2026, the Maison des Femmes-Santé had served approximately 70 patients.
In early January, the hospital activated its new seasonal winter unit (USH) for the first time to alleviate pressure on emergency services during peak winter demand. The unit, equipped with 15 medical beds, has treated nearly 40 patients to date.
The hospital joined the regional medical imaging platform (Pimm) in December 2025, a service launched in 2023 by the ARS. Pimm comprises a team of 20 radiologists from 11 public hospitals, centralizing the interpretation of urgent CT and MRI scans and coordinating regional on-call schedules during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Construction is underway on a new nursing home (Ehpad) in Taillegrain, with structural work expected to continue through the summer of 2026, and completion anticipated in the fall of 2027. The facility will accommodate 98 beds and is supported by the Cher departmental council and the ARS. The project costs over 14 million euros.
The hospital is also expanding its nephrology-hemodialysis services in 2026, having received authorizations for the medical dialysis unit (UDM), self-dialysis, and home dialysis. Construction of the UDM is planned to begin by the end of 2026, adding four dialysis stations and eight additional dialysis sessions per day, to address growing patient needs.
The hospital aims to generalize the digitization of administrative procedures throughout 2026 to reduce wait times at the admissions desk, building on an initial rollout in 12 services.
In a joint management structure with the CH de Sancerre since June 2025, the hospital has initiated a modernization project for the CH de Sancerre’s social medical building, costing 16 million euros. The project is currently in the study and planning phase.
Responding to an increase in the number of interns, the hospital has begun restructuring the Château des Gadeaux, where interns are housed, to create more modern and welcoming spaces. A plan is in development to construct a new 120-bed intern residence.
