In the midst of a strike by general practitioners, patients are forced to turn to the Samu, which is already facing a triple epidemic and whose services are overloaded.
While hospitals already have to juggle between a triple epidemic (Covid, traditional bronchiolitis and a very tough flu), a lack of staff and end-of-year holidays, the liberal doctors went on strike until January 2. Consequence: the Samu finds itself overwhelmed by calls from patients, who traditionally turned to their doctors as a first resort.
Monday, at center 15 of the Samu des Bouches-du-Rhône, the regulation received more than 3,400 calls. A demand far too high for the means of the center, to the point that some patients were forced to wait more than 45 minutes before being able to speak to a doctor on the phone.
“We are asking for reinforcements from the liberal doctors who regulate. I too put myself in the post because it was necessary to strengthen the regulation”, explains to BFMTV Doctor Puget, medical director of Samu de Marseille.
“The Minister strongly condemns the call for a strike”
The strike of liberal doctors was denounced by the president of the association Samu-Urgences de France. “Launching a strike movement when the health system is suffering and with a strong epidemic, it is putting in difficulty a whole part of the population who will not find an answer to their request for care”, lamented Marc Noizet at the microphone of RMC.
“It was not the right time. All caregivers who can must be at the bedside of patients,” he explained.
The Minister of Health also expressed his disapproval of the movement with BFMTV.
“The minister strongly condemns the call for a strike launched by certain liberal doctors during this end-of-year holiday period,” said François Braun’s entourage.
