For several weeks, hospitals have been under tension. The combination of epidemics of influenza, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis is putting pressure on health establishments and personnel when the sector is already in crisis. This is the case of Martigues where, every day, the waiting time in the emergency room exceeds several hours.
Sandrine, a nurse, continues to see patients who do not always require “emergency” care and who could be seen by general practitioners.
“Often they find appointments that are often very far away, doctors that are not necessarily available, medical centers that are saturated,” Sandrine laments into the BFMTV microphone.
“People are repatriated to the emergency room because they have to be cared for and reassured,” sums up the nurse.
Lack of beds… and arms
In the overloaded corridors, it is mainly older people who wait. And finding a place for them is a real headache: the lack of a bed is a problem, just like the lack of arms.
“We are in a deficit of around 50%. With half the workforce, we are trying to sustain our organizations. It requires a multiplication of assistance,” summarizes the hospital doctor André Mazille to the BFMTV microphone.
Therefore, the workload is much higher than expected for caregivers. In a day, they sometimes have to attend to more than 150 patients. And the tension is growing heavy for Michael, who apprehensively dons his blouse every day.
In charge of daily activities, he is sometimes called in by patients who need help going to the bathroom. “We tell them, ‘we’ll be back,’ but when we come back, sometimes they say they got hurt,” says Michael.
“It is painful for the person and for you he questions you, because you are mistreating,” he laments. “You’re mistreating,” the nurse insists. “And that’s all we don’t want.”
Source: BFM TV
