it's a good start

Now, after the bulk of the health crisis that we have been through, our leaders are deciding on measures to relieve the caregivers of the French health service.

Finally, the government is looking into the issues of health establishments and their personnel. 12 measures emerged: the main conclusions of the Ségur de la santé:

1. 19 billion euros of investment in the health system to improve patient care and the daily lives of caregivers.

2. 8.2 billion euros per year to upgrade the professions of health establishments and EHPADs, and recognize the commitment of caregivers to the health of the French.

3. 15,000 recruitments at the public hospital.

4. Speed ​​up the exit from "all T2A" (fee-for-service) and prioritize the quality of care.

5. Fund the opening or reopening of 4,000 beds "on demand".

6. Put an end to the mercenarism of the medical interim at the public hospital.

7. Give back all its place to the hospital service within health establishments.

8. Train more caregivers in the paramedical sectors to better take care of patients.

9. Facilitate access to unscheduled care and coordinated exercise.

10. Strongly develop telehealth by building on the achievements of the crisis to provide better care for the French.

11. Give territories the main levers for investment in health in the interest of their inhabitants.

12. Combat health inequalities.

Somehow it's already a good start. This is already a step towards better health for health professionals. But this is not enough for healthcare professionals who have been suffering for years, in particular nurses and caregivers who are among those with the most physical working conditions. All these statements on paper, what will it look like on the ground?

The Ségur de la Santé: what do caregivers think?

This health Ségur, for the moment, is not yet concrete for us. When I ask my nursing colleagues for their opinion on the Ségur de la Santé, they are divergent. Some people consider that "it is already that", "it is better than nothing". But most of the caregivers refer to these measures as "Crumbs for pigeons.", "Big declarations to make things pretty.", "Only words, to silence us.". Difficult to say in this period when, for the most part, we are still in shock. In shock, because we had expired masks to go to work. In shock, because some liberal nurses had their equipment stolen in the street, their car had their car broken. In shock as some nurses came home and passed the virus on to their entire families. In shock, because some caregivers saw their colleague die … We find it hard to rejoice, because we know that these theoretical measures will not have the same repercussions depending on the different ARS (Regional Health Agency). They will not have the same impact either depending on the structures, establishments, etc. So, what do caregivers think of their € 180 revaluation? Honestly we laugh about it. Because better to laugh about it than to cry about it. It has always been our motto in difficult times. To better understand, let's look at the net salaries of our European neighbors: salary of an FDI in Luxembourg € 3,400, salary of an FDI in Switzerland € 3,300, salary of an FDI in Germany € 2,500. In France, a nurse earns between € 1,300 and € 1,650 for beginners. Yet we do the same job, if not with less staff.

The Ségur de la Santé: did it arrive too late…?

In fact, this Ségur plan is too late. In fact, it is even unfortunate to have come to this for some to understand, which has been said to be loud and clear for years now. Because it was not difficult only during the health crisis of spring 2020. Caregivers have been protesting for years, caregivers committing suicide, caregivers cannot take it anymore. "They just have to change jobs." It’s not the job that bothers us.

This profession is made up of relationships, people and technical care that relieves and saves. This profession, we chose it. This job, we love it. But what we can no longer endure are the working conditions. It is these working conditions that make our human profession a profession of numbers and profitability. So yes, the Ségur plan is too late. Much too late, because the caregivers feel exhausted. After years of exhaustion and a period of health crisis that is not yet over, these measures appear to be too light. When I was at the Hôpital des Invalides de Paris 7, our new department head spent half a day with each of the trades in his department. He had fed people with disabilities for lunch, toured with IDEs at night… He had the respect of the whole team. And since that day, the service has not been understaffed. Do you want to know what healthcare staff in France need? Come to a service for a day. Come to a hospital EHPAD with 140 patients for only 2 nurses. Come and do our tours. Come to an intensive care unit where 1/3 of the workforce is off. Come and experience it and you will know what measures we need in healthcare establishments in France.

About me: my name is Charlotte, I have been a nurse since 2014 and I have been working in an EPHAD for a year. At the same time, I developed a consulting activity for this profession that I love and which may also need support. I help IDEs who wish to develop or retrain professionally. My website: charlottek.fr.

A nurse expelled during the Covid, her owners spared by justice

Video by Clara Poudevigne