France records 1,300 resignations among nurses, health minister says, but dismisses reports of hospital capacity suffering
French healthcare has seen some 1,300 resignations, according to the minister for health, amid reports that hospitals have closed 20% of beds due to understaffing. The cause is seemingly unknown to the government.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said his office was trying to understand a spike in resignations that will see many hospitals short-staffed in the often-busy autumn-winter period.
“Among nurses, there are 1,300 resignations recorded,” Veran stated on Thursday, adding that the problem was not an exception among European nations. He noted that many nurses had joined the healthcare profession in the middle of the pandemic, and suggested exhaustion might have been a factor in their departure.
The minister’s comments came after numerous reports in the French media that hospitals were struggling to cope due to a lack of caregivers. In Paris’s Bichat–Claude Bernard Hospital, only six of 24 nursing positions are currently filled, meaning only four of 28 beds are available.
According to the Scientific Council, a representative of which spoke with French news channel BFMTV, one in five hospital beds is currently closed across France due to the lack of nurses. The report also affirmed Veran’s view that many caregivers were exhausted by the demands being placed on them during the pandemic.
Veran dismissed the 20% figure, however, suggesting the real number was closer to 5%. He has requested an inquiry into the causes of the resignations.
At times, the pandemic has pushed the French hospital system to its limits, although hospitalizations have fallen since coronavirus vaccines were rolled out. In September, France suspended 3,000 unvaccinated health workers for not getting a Covid-19 jab as required under new regulations.
“Among nurses, there are 1,300 resignations recorded,” Veran stated on Thursday, adding that the problem was not an exception among European nations. He noted that many nurses had joined the healthcare profession in the middle of the pandemic, and suggested exhaustion might have been a factor in their departure.
The minister’s comments came after numerous reports in the French media that hospitals were struggling to cope due to a lack of caregivers. In Paris’s Bichat–Claude Bernard Hospital, only six of 24 nursing positions are currently filled, meaning only four of 28 beds are available.
According to the Scientific Council, a representative of which spoke with French news channel BFMTV, one in five hospital beds is currently closed across France due to the lack of nurses. The report also affirmed Veran’s view that many caregivers were exhausted by the demands being placed on them during the pandemic.
Veran dismissed the 20% figure, however, suggesting the real number was closer to 5%. He has requested an inquiry into the causes of the resignations.
At times, the pandemic has pushed the French hospital system to its limits, although hospitalizations have fallen since coronavirus vaccines were rolled out. In September, France suspended 3,000 unvaccinated health workers for not getting a Covid-19 jab as required under new regulations.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
