Eight doctors arrived this morning by plane in Nevers, in the Nièvre. They came from Dijon, three hours by car from the city which suffers from a lack of doctors. The device has been criticized for its carbon footprint.
The measure illustrates the needs of certain medical deserts. An air bridge of caregivers was established this Thursday between Dijon and Nièvre, medical desertdespite criticism of the environmental impact.
Eight doctors arrived shortly before 9 a.m. in Nevers, under a light drizzle and biting cold, before joining the hospital in the city, capital of Nièvre (200,000 inhabitants). They were to return to Dijon the same evening.
35 minute ride
This “air bridge” aims to connect Nevers at least once a week to the regional capital Dijon in 35 minutes, compared to nearly three hours by car or two and a quarter hours by train.
“We have a lot of patients from this region that we sometimes see 10 minutes for a consultation, so to travel three hours to go and 3 hours to return, it’s not easy”, estimates at the microphone of BFMTV Alice Brie, maxillofacial surgeon who is part of this Thursday’s convoy.
“I think it can be an alternative today to offer medicine close to the patient,” she adds.
“Unfortunately, the departmental hospital center of the agglomeration of Nevers is the furthest in France from a CHU”, the University hospital center of Dijon where doctors can be available, explained this Thursday to BFMTV the mayor LREM of Nevers and chairman of the supervisory board of the hospital center (CH) of the city, Denis Thuriot.
“There has been no effort to bring us closer otherwise, well listen, we have the airports that fit,” he added.
Declining medical density
The “Flying Doctors” are pulmonologists, oncologists or other gynecologists intended for the CH where there is a lack of “about fifty doctors and at least 35 nurses”, according to Patrick Bertrand, president of the Medical Commission of the Hospital Center.
The small eight-seater aircraft also transported two general practitioners from SOS Médecins. “We are going to set up a structure”, currently non-existent in Nièvre, general practitioner Romain Thévenoud told AFP.
“Our goal is to better care for the population,” explained CH director Jean-François Segovia at Nevers airport.
“Medical density has dropped by 21% in Nièvre between 2012 and 2022. There are 68 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants compared to an average of 121 in France. There is no dermatologist, only one rheumatologist, an allergist… 20% of patients do not have a treating doctor,” he said.
The airlift has a cost but it will in fact “save”, assures Denis Thuriot. “It costs 670 euros round trip per passenger”, while an interim doctor can ask for up to “3000 euros a day” and that the CH already has an annual deficit of 6 million euros, calculates the mayor .
Criticisms of the system’s carbon footprint
The measure, however, aroused strong criticism from Nivernais ecologists. “A journey by plane emits 1,500 times more greenhouse gases than by train”, accuses Sylvie Dupart-Muzerelle, EELV municipal councilor of Nevers, who denounces “a blow of com” at a time when Europe validates the abolition of domestic flights in France when there is an alternative by train in less than 2h30″. However, this measure does not apply to private flights such as Dijon-Nevers.
“We must not oppose ecology to public health”, however nuanced Wilfrid Séjeau, vice-president EELV of the departmental council, who sits on the supervisory board of Nevers hospital. “If this solution proves to be really effective, I am ready to accept it,” he told AFP.
“No, it’s not crazy. It meets a need,” defends the mayor of Nevers. “Let’s stop the plane-bashing. Planes take off every morning with businessmen and you don’t hear anyone shouting,” he adds.
“I am aware of the criticisms of the carbon footprint. But we must hear all these people who call 15”, adds Doctor Romain Thévenoud, of SOS Médecins.
“We have to fire all the woods”, judge for his part the director of the Regional Health Agency (ARS), Jean-Jacques Coiplet. “We will see with use” if it “meets expectations” in terms of care and if it is “good win-win” for Nevers hospital, he adds.
