Will we soon have to add deserted hotlines to medical deserts? In a few years, if nothing is done, many night, weekend and public holiday guards may no longer exist. The Order of Physicians raises the problem in its annual report on permanence of care (PDS).
Since 2002, the duty tour is no longer compulsory for doctors. It is now based on the voluntary service of liberal general practitioners. In 2014, only 60% of the departments had a rate of voluntary general practitioners above 60%. This is much less than in 2012 when the rate reached 73% of the departments.
Why this slight disaffection with the guards? “The declining demographics, the overload of work, the search for a better quality of life and the decline in interest in liberal practice are all factors that generate tensions on the continuity of the permanence of care (PDS ) in general medicine “, points out the Order of Physicians.
The night premium abolished
In some towns, residents watch helplessly as their doctor’s office is closed, who is retiring. Added to this is the overall aging of practitioners (58 years on average) as well as the lack of incentive to work at night when the night premium has been abolished.
The State has a share of responsibility in this situation, according to Patrick Bouet, the president of the Order of the doctors. The State “organizes the disengagement of professionals” through the regional health agencies (ARS), which have removed the deep night premium from midnight to 8 am. The ARS “even plan to remove the evening bonus” from 8 pm to midnight, he explains to the Parisian.
To respond to this decline in medical on-call duty, the Order of Physicians recommends the use of telemedicine (remote consultations) as well as the creation of a National number free of charge on duty, complementary to the 15th. He also wants greater consultation between the regional health authorities and doctors, emergency physicians and pharmacists.
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