the hospital temporarily closes one of its geriatrics departments for lack of staff

The Auch hospital center closed its geriatric SSR (follow-up and rehabilitation) service on Monday April 25 for a month and a half following the absence of one of its doctors. The 24 patients in this department, aged between 80 and 90, were sent elsewhere.

After the closure in recent months of various emergency services (in Foix, Pamiers, Lavaur or even Moissac), other services of the public hospital are now affected by the shortage of staff. The latest: the Auch hospital.

Last week, the management of the Auch hospital center announced that it had to close its geriatric aftercare and rehabilitation service (SSR) for a period of one and a half months.

A decision which would be due to the absence of a doctor and which was quick to react to the unions of caregivers on social networks.

In a press release, these caregivers expressed their anger and concern about their future in this hospital establishment.

The nursing staff was notified the day before for the next day. Tonight, he does not know where he will be on Monday. Is this practice, which systematizes the lack of anticipation and which is found in other hospital establishments, due to management incompetence or a deliberate intention to promote discredit against the public hospital and ultimately to restrict its activities?

press release of the CGT of the Auch hospital

In the meantime, solutions had to be found for the 24 patients assigned to this geriatrics department. Aged between 80 and 90, they were sent to other health establishments.

The staff, the 4 nurses were to be assigned to other services from this Monday, April 25.

“The staff does not understand this decision which would be due to the imminent absence of a doctor for leave! Whereas other doctors could have taken over. The team already ensures the operation of this service in ordinary times under particularly difficult conditions. difficulties: insufficient number of doctors, out of 8 nursing posts, only 4 are filled, i.e. 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon for 24 patients (an additional post had been obtained in the morning and 1 in the afternoon, but this promise was not kept)”, specifies the press release of the CGT of the hospital of Auch.

A decision resented by these health professionals, whom they consider to be “violent”, including for their patients. Indeed, this SSR service aims to prepare these elderly patients to return home, and these carers are worried about their care.

And other departments of the Auch hospital are in tension, for lack of staff.

The hospital cracks, the nursing staff too. This kind of process, disrespectful for patients and caregivers, tends to put the whole hospital under tension, fewer beds, shorter stays and overcrowding of services: this creates monumental disorders. Nothing has been done for two years. By doing so, the management forces the staff to react in anger when solutions exist, but not all of them have been studied.

CGT hospital de Auch press release

The situation at Auch hospital is far from isolated. The Lavaur hospital, the Toulouse University Hospital, the Foix hospital are also plagued by staffing difficulties.

Beyond our Region, the public hospital is experiencing unprecedented tension since the health crisis throughout the territory. Hospitals must therefore regularly close emergency services or beds.

Friday April 22, Dr Marion Malphettes listed the long list of services closed in the country lduring a rally against the threat of closure of the immunology department of the Saint-Louis hospital in Paris.

A very long list which is unfortunately not exhaustive.