An integral part of the Vaud University Hospital Center (CHUV), the new children’s hospital is faced with additional costs estimated at 25 million francs by 2026. The institution being in a poor financial situation, the future pediatric hospital must already tighten the belt before even welcoming its first patients, the RTS Investigation Unit revealed on Tuesday.
Starting next spring, the CHUV’s new children’s hospital (NHE) will welcome its first patients in a brand new setting, in the heart of the hospital complex. This 200 million francs project will bring together activities currently spread over two sites, one of them being the current Montétan pediatric hospital, a dilapidated establishment, located a few kilometers from the CHUV.
The prospective move had delighted more than one, within the hospital center itself but also externally. The NHE will offer the best in terms of caring for sick children: “a more functional, modern and warm environment, capable of responding to the current and future missions of pediatric medicine”, we can read on the CHUV website.
On the 7:30 p.m. RTS show, the Vaud state councilor in charge of health Rebecca Ruiz spoke on December 1 of “a major project for the children and families of the canton”.
>> See the interview with Rebecca Ruiz at 7:30 p.m.:
>> Read also: CHUV governance: “When problems arise, we act”, assures Rebecca Ruiz
Sharply rising and uncovered operating costs
But a shadow hangs over this strategic project. By 2026, the new establishment will generate additional costs of around 25 million francs, according to an estimate made in 2022 by the CHUV and made public last October, during the presentation of the center’s economic plan. hospital.
Operating costs which far exceed those which were outlined in 2013 during the debates at the Grand Council for the construction of the NHE. Enough to arouse a certain unease today among Vaudois deputies from the right and the left (see box below).
This new amount mainly includes personnel costs: at the clinical level (nurse, doctor), logistics (cleaning, catering, laundry) and administrative (reception). “There is a part of these 25 million which will be long-term, namely jobs, then a part will be rather one-off with the purchase of materials and equipment,” Emmanuel Bourquin, the administrative and financial director, told RTS of the CHUV.
But the problem today, given the fragile financial health of the CHUV, is that part of these additional costs are simply not covered. A worrying observation made worse by the fact that in Switzerland, pediatric activity is in deficit in all hospitals. The future financial situation of the NHE could therefore weigh down the general accounts of the CHUV.
A dual strategy facing the risk of a major deficit
To avoid this worst-case scenario, the CHUV first chose to go back to the Grand Conseil box, and this to obtain additional funds: 6 million francs this year, 12 million for next year (an amount which must still be voted on by the Grand Council). In total, 18 million francs in total will be used to recruit staff and will therefore allow the NHE to open its doors next spring.
But as this will not be enough, the CHUV is now seeking to reduce the operating costs of its new setting as much as possible. Without affecting the quality and safety of care.
“First, we looked with the clinical staff if we could reduce certain activities, the same on the logistics side, this was done,” Emmanuel Bourquin, the financial and administrative director of the CHUV, explained to RTS. “(…) We also plan to temporarily reallocate certain spaces in the new hospital for strategic activities, in order to maximize the efficiency of the new infrastructure.”
Understand by this, using NHE spaces for more lucrative activities outside of pediatrics. That being said, CHUV management also hopes to generate some additional revenue from certain pediatric activities (MRI, radiology, emergencies).
Marc Menichini, RTS investigation department
