Dadded stress for future parents. Maternities are not spared by the shortage of caregivers, which has affected all hospital services in recent months. At least 10% of the 460 French maternities are in a situation of “partial closure”, for lack of caregivers. These establishments are forced to limit, or even sacrifice, pre- and post-birth activities to focus on childbirth, the union of midwives ONSSF and the association Santé en danger said on Friday.
The figures are undoubtedly lower than the reality: out of 461 maternities, 122 responded to the survey conducted by the ONSSF and Santé en danger between 1er and June 26, and 49 “declare partial closures”, or “40% of respondents”, specify the two organizations in a press release.
Closed beds in neonatology
For lack of sufficient staff, these establishments have reduced the wing: suppression of consultations (pregnancy follow-up, ultrasound), “stopping of birth preparation courses”, “closing of neonatology beds”, of “pathological pregnancy service” or even “a wing complete with layers”.
So many forced choices “which generate transfers to neighboring structures” while three of the maternities concerned “are the only ones in their departments”. Contacted by AFP, the president of the ONSSF, Camille Dumortier, specifies that these are those of Nevers, Guéret and Mayotte.
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Pointing to the “difficulties in replacing” liberal midwives during their summer holidays, the ONSSF and Santé en danger warn that “the supply of perinatal and gynecological care will be reduced this summer” and deplore “degraded procedures (which) have repercussions on the care of women and newborns”.