finding a practitioner at night in Orne, a worrying headache

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From a certain time, access the pediatric emergencies for his child is a puzzle in l’Orne. Since May, Alençon hospital closed its service overnight. Same sentence for those d'Argentan and of Cliff (Calvados), on the border with the department.

Only one service open at night in Orne

In Orne, only the hospital Flers still opens its pediatric emergencies at night, dedicated to babies, children and adolescents. Faced with these significant difficulties in the medical care of young patients, Samu 61 staff sounded the alarm on Tuesday, December 31, in front of the prefect of Orne during his tour of the mobilized emergency teams for New Year's Eve.

In Alençon, medical regulation assistants (ARM) receive emergency calls and, if necessary, refer patients. But, to guide the youngest, the task becomes difficult because of lack of pediatricians in the department. “Like right now, with the flu epidemic which is affecting a lot of children,” confirms Blandine Bernon, room manager at Samu 61. “Regulation can be problematic. Children may have to travel a long way to see a doctor. »

“Especially in the evening, when returning from school at 6 or 7 p.m. Orientation poses difficulties with large distances to be imposed, without knowing the real seriousness of the problem,” adds Dr Maël Godefroy, emergency doctor at the Alençon-Mamers hospital center.

Long journeys to see a doctor

Children sometimes have to drive more than an hour to see an emergency doctor. They are mainly sent to Mansbut the service is now “overwhelmed”. “In Le Mans, they welcome patients from Sarthe and neighboring departments. » They are also directed to Flersincreasingly in demand, even Lisieux. “But when you live in Mortagne, it takes you a good hour to get to Flers. Having to explain that you have to go there when there is a service in Alençon is complicated to understand. »

The SMUR also provides care for vital emergencies. But not without fear. “I am not a pediatrician,” says Dr. Maël Godefroy. “I know how to manage the medical procedures to be performed, but always with anxiety. I'm not used to taking care of children. I'm afraid I won't do it well, because I don't do it often. You have to do it often to do it well. »

When announcing the closure of the pediatric emergency rooms at night, the management of the Alençon hospital specified that “children may be directed to the adult emergencies of the hospital, to the pediatric emergencies of the establishment closer, or to a pediatrician or a town general practitioner.” “Small emergencies like Mortagne and Mamers provide support and also take care of young people for initial assessments,” adds Blandine Bernon.

“A medical reservoir difficult to find”

The organization adopted by the Alençon hospital was only to be provisionaltime to recruit practitioners. But eight months later, the pediatric emergency department is still closed from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.. And this until further notice. “Positions are open but it is a difficult medical reservoir to find. The entire department is concerned,” confides Eva Gatel, deputy director of the Alençon-Mamers hospital center. “This is one of the priority subjects of our establishment. We are trying to recruit but also to welcome more and more interns. »

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