A report presented to the Academy of Medicine considers an increased reduction in the number of maternity wards necessary, for lack of sufficient nursing staff. The two maternity hospitals in Sète would be concerned and therefore raise the question of possible cooperation to ensure the continuity of care.
“It is illusory to support an activity of less than 1,000 deliveries per year.” These are the words that ignited the powder. In a report led by Professor Yves Ville of the Necker Hospital in Paris, it is recommended to reduce the number of maternity wards in France by 20% to ensure the quality of care for mother and child. In Sète, the two maternities, the Bassin de Thau hospital and the Sainte-Thérèse clinic, account for nearly 580 deliveries each year.
Lack of staff pointed out
Nothing to worry about Claudie Greslon, director of hospitals in the Bassin de Thau. “Do not panic, this is only a report it will be up to the government to follow it or not. We have less than 1000 deliveries a year but we are a level 2A maternity thanks to our recent neonatology service so we are not necessarily concerned. On the other hand, the question of cooperation with the other maternity hospital in the city arises” explains the director. Among the elements put forward in the report, the lack of personnel which would force certain maternities to close a few days in the week, or to call on temporary workers. Merging the two maternity teams in Sète would thus make it possible to cope with this demographic tension. “The report makes perfect sense, today’s professionals are asking for a better balance between their personal and professional life, they no longer necessarily want to work nights and weekends. This is why we are thinking about a collaboration“ says Claudie Greslon.
Since 2022, the maternity ward of Saint-Clair hospital has included a neonatology department.
Above all, do not favor baby factories
Same story on the side of the Sainte Thérèse clinic, even if Nathalie Cournede remains cautious. “In Sète, patients have the privilege of being able to choose between two maternity wards, one public and one private. We must cooperate but not merge because the risk would be to find that couples from the Thau basin shun the remaining maternity and give birth to babies. little Montpellier or little Biterois“, alerts the director of the private establishment. To avoid this loss of patients, it also advocates a pooling of resources. “What we should hope for from the reform of authorizations is to have a single authorization on the territory of the Thau basin, but spread over two sites with the pooling of certain means. This would make it possible to keep the human relationship, the closeness that we love in small maternity wards. Above all, we must not favor large maternities which are already baby factories.
Rethinking the perinatal care system
If the two women affirm that the “small maternity wards” are not more dangerous, thanks in particular to the social bond and the prevention of high-risk pregnancies that they offer, they are sounding the alarm. The perinatal system must be reorganized as soon as possible. “The decree which governs perinatality dates from 1998, it perhaps deserves to be groomed”, admits Claudie Greslon. “Perinatality must be a priority, we must open the numerus clausus of doctors and economically promote the professions that no longer attract”, adds Nathalie Cournede, in charge of the Sainte Thérèse clinic where 584 Sète residents were born last year.
If the report has not yet been taken up by the legislator, it is now up to the Regional Health Agency to think about the solutions to be provided in its regional health project 2023-2028.