In March 2020, according to data from Montpellier University Hospital, all emergency services outside COVID saw their activity decrease.
A particularly noticeable drop for cardiac emergencies, down 26%.
The CHU explains that it is afraid that patients who would normally go to hospital refuse to go there for fear of the coronavirus, even though their state of health perfectly justifies a call to the Samu.
For the director general of Montpellier CHU Thomas Le Ludec, “You have to keep the reflex of calling 15 in an emergency. Even if you are confined, you can move around.”
People arrive too late at the hospital, containment should not work against their health, this is not the goal.
The management of the CHU recalls that a dedicated and secure circuit for the management of emergencies outside COVID has been set up at the hospital, patients do not meet.
“To ensure the safe management of these patients, the Montpellier University Hospital has identified for more than a month, two distinct and separate streams. A COVID + secure stream has been created at level -2 of Lapeyronie Hospital. “
The usual channels for emergency care at the Montpellier CHU are maintained:
– Adult, psychiatric and pediatric emergencies at Lapeyronie Hospital;
– Gynecological and obstetric emergencies at Arnaud de Villeneuve hospital;
– Specialized Head and Neck emergencies at Gui Hospital in Chauliac.
And the teaching hospital to remind: that beyond emergencies, it continues to ensure the follow-up of all the patients who need it and for whom a postponement of care would constitute a loss of chance.
If your consultation, examination or hospitalization has been maintained, it is necessary for your health. You can come to the hospital safely, making sure to follow the barrier gestures.
A drop in consultations with general practitioners
Jean-Christophe Calmes, vice-president of the MG France union and himself a doctor in Frontignan, also noted a drop in activity in the medical offices of Hérault.
Even if teleconsultations clearly increased in March, going from 10,000 to 80,000 from the first week of confinement, 600,000 teleconsultations for the month of March, according to figures from French Health Insurance, this does not compensate for the decrease office consultations.
The medical offices are however open and have taken all measures to ensure that those who go on site for anything other than Covid symptoms are treated without the risk of contamination.
Especially since the masks necessary for the protection of caregivers and patients are there and regularly distributed.
“Despite our efforts on teleconsultations and a reorganization of our consultations, with moments dedicated to suspected Covid patients, and home visits, patients come less to medical offices. Those who require follow-up for chronic diseases, such as those who would have an acute attack. “
The government has said so much about staying at home that patients are not going to see them even when it is necessary.
“We must get the message across that the health system in France is working well, general practitioners are there for 80% of the care, the rest of the follow-up is then done by the hospital.”
We don’t risk anything in our closets.
“Stay at home if the confinement lasts two weeks, that’s fine, but if it settles over time like today, you have to go to your doctor, as you would have done without the epidemic. nothing in our closets. “
General practitioners fear that, after the peak of the epidemic, there will be an influx of patients into the offices, with more serious symptoms, and therefore late treatment which will impair the chances of recovery.
Pharmacists worried too
In the pharmacies of Hérault, the situation is almost reversed.
Pharmacies are seeing more and more sick people come to the pharmacy to relieve their symptoms instead of seeing their doctor as they should.
Frédéric Abécassis, president of the Hérault pharmacists union, and his colleagues note “Every day in pharmacies that patients no longer visit! It is detrimental to public health.”
They are afraid to go to the doctor despite the measures taken, the separation of patient flows, teleconsultation, reserved slots …
For him, “Covid national communication does not encourage to consult. “
Pharmacists can perfectly manage drug renewal measures, as the government has asked them to do, for chronic diseases.
“We see sick and / or suffering patients in pharmacies who refuse to consult. We strongly encourage them to contact their doctor, but there is a lot of reluctance.”
For all the medical professions, the delay in taking care of the sick is a significant risk for public health, “a time bomb”, as summarized by Frédéric Abécassis.
Reminder of warning signs to contact immediately on 15:
The Montpellier University Hospital continues to manage all life-threatening emergencies.
“If there are neurological signs suggestive of a stroke, chest pain or breathing difficulties, call immediately 15.”
Certain signs should particularly alert you:
- Deformation of the mouth;
- Weakness on one side of the body, arm or leg;
- Speech disorders;
- Sensitivity disorders of a part of the body;
- Chest pain;
- Difficulty breathing.
Prompt care is necessary in these cases, to ensure the best chance of recovery possible.
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