While hospitals already have to juggle a triple epidemic (Covid, traditional bronchiolitis and a very hard flu), lack of staff and end-of-year holidays, the liberal doctors went on strike until 2 January. Consequence: Samu is overwhelmed by calls from patients, who traditionally went to their doctors as their first resort.
On Monday, at center 15 of the Samu des Bouches-du-Rhône, the regulation received more than 3,400 calls. This was too high a demand for the center’s media, to the point that some patients were forced to wait more than 45 minutes before being able to speak to a doctor on the phone.
“We are asking for reinforcements from the liberal doctors who regulate. I also took office because it was necessary to reinforce the regulation,” explains Dr. Puget, medical director of Samu de Marseille, to BFMTV.
“The minister strongly condemns the strike call”
The liberal doctors’ strike was denounced by the president of the Samu-Urgences de France association. “Launching a strike movement when the health system is suffering and with a strong epidemic is putting an entire part of the population in trouble that will not find a response to their request for care,” lamented Marc Noizet at the MRC microphone.
“It was not the right time. As many caregivers as possible should be at the patients’ bedside,” she explained.
The Health Minister also expressed his disapproval of the move with BFMTV.
“The minister strongly condemns the strike call launched by certain liberal doctors during this holiday period at the end of the year,” said François Braun’s entourage.
Source: BFM TV
