Flu epidemic. Everything you need to know about the “white plan”, triggered in 34 hospitals in Brittany

Around thirty hospitals in Brittany are at saturation due to the influx of flu patients in the emergency room. The “white plan” is triggered to recall reinforcement personnel or deprogram operations. We explain the consequences of this measure to you.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the flu? The virus is wreaking havoc throughout France and in Brittany, the region facing a strong epidemic.

Direct consequence, hospitals are saturated by an influx of patients. Like every winter for 10 years, public hospitals, saturated with staff and resources, are launching their “white plan”. An emergency measure to deal with this influx of patients combined with the lack of beds.

In Ille-Vilaine, 29 health establishments are concerned. Two sites in Côtes d’Armor and three in Morbihan. Everyone can cancel operations or call back caregivers from their leave.

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) launched a blank plan for all health establishments in Ille-et-Vilaine on January 9, 2025. From the Pontivy hospital center, to the Rance Émeraude hospital group in Saint- Malo and Dinan, at Rennes University Hospital: public and private, all hospitals are concerned.

In Morbihan, the situation is also tense: the hospitals of Vannes, Ploërmel and Pontivy activated their white plan on January 3.

In Côtes d’Armor, it is the Yves Le Foll hospital in Saint Brieuc which must undergo this emergency measure.
To date, only Finistère has been spared by the system.

The flu overwhelms the Breton hospital system. For the first week of January, 20% of consultations with the general practitioner are due to this virus, according to figures from SOS Médecins.

“And 160 hospitalizations were recorded this same week, compared to 120 the previous week“, says Anne Briac Bili, cabinet director of ARS Bretagne.

In Vannes, emergencies increased from 20 daily hospitalizations to 50, mainly elderly people, on January 2, 2025.

Barrier gestures, wearing a mask in public places and regular use of hydroalcoholic solutions are essential to limit the spread of the flu, particularly among vulnerable people, recalls Anne Briac Bili

Read: Flu. Brittany “in the red” after a difficult start to the vaccination campaign

“It’s not too late to get vaccinated” reports the ARS chief of staff. A vaccination campaign began on October 15 and continues.

In order to best respond to the influx of patients, health authorities remind you of the need to call 15 or consult a local doctor before going to the emergency room.