The obstetrical activities of the maternity hospital in the small town of Pyrénées-Atlantiques could be maintained, thanks to the recruitment of gynecologists.
On borrowed time for a few months, or even a few years, the maternity hospital in the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) could be saved. In July, on the recommendations of the specialized committee for the organization of care (CSOS), the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Nouvelle-Aquitaine had recommended stopping its activities, for safety reasons.
She justified her decision in particular by the lack of doctors still practicing in the establishment: the only gynecologist still in post is a few months away from retirement. But the Health Collective, made up of citizens and elected officials who are fighting to maintain health activities in Haut-Béarn, announced that the current recruitments should allow the maternity hospital to survive.
Recruitment well advanced
A “sufficient number of practitioners is in the process of being found, very soon, and they will be presented to the hospital administration,” said Robert Bareille, former deputy mayor of Oloron and member of the Health Collective. Let’s be clear: to date, we are not there yet, but all the indicators are green. We’ll get there ! “
The ARS had announced that, for lack of doctors, the maternity hospital would close its doors at the end of December. “The high objective is to find 5 gynecologists-obstetricians, and 5 pediatricians, estimated Hervé Lucbéreilh, mayor of Oloron, joined by Why actor in July. I think by finding 3 of each we would all be relieved already. ”
Verdict on September 5
His hopes therefore seem to be fulfilling. A meeting will be organized by the Health Collective on September 5 at the town hall of Oloron. He will detail the profile of the candidate doctors. The mayor had already claimed to have received the candidacy of two Spanish obstetricians, living on the other side of the Pyrenean border.
“With these two doctors and the one already in place, who is ready to play the game by remaining an additional year, plus possibly the two to three interesting touches on the side of the recruiting firm, it could go quickly,” he added.
Medical desert
The rescue of the maternity unit mobilized more than the inhabitants of Oloron. Those around are not ready to let her be transformed either. The ARS had in fact proposed that only pre- and postnatal care be maintained.
But the small town is surrounded by mountains, and getting around is not easy. “The fact of going to give birth in Saint-Palais or in Pau, as what is proposed to us, will double or triple the distances for pregnant women”, regretted Mr. Lucbéreilh.
The ARS had left until “late September, early October” for the recruitment of doctors. The rescue therefore seems to be on the right track. On September 30, a demonstration by the Health Collective is scheduled. So let’s hope that the demands he wanted to make heard will, by then, be transformed into a celebration of their victory.
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