A sufficient gesture to stop the crisis? The Minister of Health, François Braun, announced this Wednesday new measures “in the order of 400 million euros” to deal with the problems of the hospital sector, and in particular of pediatric services, during a press conference.
In order to respond to the “worrying situation” of the hospitals linked to a “worrying” bronchiolitis epidemic, the minister has announced in particular the doubling of the pay for night shifts of “all hospital staff” until March 31, with in order to “recognize the commitment of professionals” and “the hardships of night work”.
In addition, all caregivers who work in critical care services will be able to benefit from the “critical care bonus” launched during the Covid pandemic. Some health professionals were excluded, such as child care workers. The granting of this bonus to these professionals from the pediatric service was one of the demands of the heads of the pediatric intensive care units.
It also approved the extension of the measures launched this summer within the framework of the ‘flash mission’, such as aid for city medicine and medical regulation.
The caregivers mobilized
These “immediate and forceful measures” represent an amount “of the order of 400 million euros”, he indicated. His cabinet later clarified that the amount of 150 million euros promised in October by the Government to support “the services in tension” of the hospital would be included in that amount. The regional intervention funds of the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) will also be mobilized to meet specific needs in certain territories.
These solutions, which aim to “recognize the unfailing investment of our hospital professionals”, will be discussed again within the framework of the work of the National Refoundation Council launched in early October by the government. The National Pediatrics Conference scheduled for spring 2023 should allow the development of the roadmap for the sector for the coming years, explained the Minister.
On October 22, more than 7,000 pediatric caregivers sent an open letter to Emmanuel Macron to alert him to the saturation of hospital services linked to the bronchiolitis epidemic but also to the lack of resources and personnel.
Source: BFM TV
