the payment for the visit is “a real scandal”

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On the stage of the auditorium of La Cité de la Mer, in Cherbourg (Manche), Fréderic Bastian reads a message, sent a few days ago by a sister from SOS Doctors in a dedicated WhatsApp loop.

Somewhere, in France, a 74-year-old patient has just been seen during a visit. She was hospitalized at the end of August in a cardiology department for pulmonary embolism, with the discovery of diabetes. During the stay, during which she did not eat, hyperthyroidism was detected. A doctor at the hospital wrote a letter to complete an assessment before a future consultation. Obviously, it is impossible to obtain an appointment without a letter from the attending physician. He was satisfied with the usual prescription renewal, which he gave to the patient’s son.

In one month, the latter lost nine kilos. She could no longer stand for more than two or three minutes. The trembling of his fingers no longer allowed him to send a text message on the phone. “It’s so much, sad, revoltingfinishes the health professional. We haven’t finished seeing patients like this. »

A birthday and observations

Thirty years after its opening in Cherbourg, in May 1994, SOS Médecins organized its national congress in Cotentin, this Thursday October 3, 2024. A birthday, by its nature, is an opportunity to look back to take stock of the time spent, and to look forward to the future.

SOS Médecins structures are becoming essential in the field of unscheduled care. Cherbourg is a good example, with a very large territorial network. In ten years, activity has increased by more than 60%. We’re overflowing, everywhere. We must find the best possible response to this lack of healthcare provision, in an ecosystem in full transformation.

The issue is paramount. For several years, communities have been taking their part. Like Benoît Arrivé, the elected officials present recalled that there could be no regional development without adequate care.

The remuneration of the visit, “a scandal”

In turn, David Margueritte, president of Cotentin, and Sébastien Fagnen, senator for Manche, spoke a little about themselves when paying tribute to the structure. From their experience as a young father for whom SOS is a point of first resort, which reassures.

Over the years, faced with the erosion of medical demographics, this is what the consultation center has become.

Last year, the visits, the primary vocation of SOS, only represented 8 % of activity. The figure reflects unease, at a time when the supervisory authorities are praising home care. The model is no longer viable, and has been reduced to evenings and weekends.

In front François Mengin-Lecreulxthe director general of the Normandy Regional Health Agency, Antoine Leveneur mentioned “a scandal” when it came to discussing remuneration for visits. These have been increased by five euros in twenty-two years. “ A home visit is difficultexplains the president of the Regional Union of Liberal Doctors (URML) of Normandy. It’s travel, it’s often long because they are heavy patients, with pathologies. This valuation is totally disrespectful. »

Regulation

Same problem in nursing homes, where many people no longer have attending doctors, points out Dr Philippe Chollet, president of CPTS du Cotentin.

These are subjects, which I hope, will progress in the coming months, answers François Mengin-Lecreulx. We will be advocates for your concerns.

In April, Sébastien Fagnen wrote to the Ministry of Health about the home visit. He will take up his pen again in the coming weeks to bring the problem back to Françoise Darrieussecqnewly named.

The other subject of tension at SOS Médecins is its place in the Care Access Service (SAS) system, unscheduled care.

Calling the regulation or directly SOS Médecins results in an identical act… for a different price, to the disadvantage of SOS Médecins.

One of the current challenges is to have dual access recognized (direct access to SOS Médecins and the partnership with Samu-SAS).

For the moment, it is impossible to convince the ministry. The upgrades to the home visit all go through the SAS.

Whatever the entry channel, we believe that invoicing should be the same.

SOS Médecins France brings together 63 associations and count 1,300 doctors.

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