H24, the reality of Vivalia’s emergencies in a film debate

Sometimes criticized, particularly on social networks where it cannot respond without revealing medical confidentiality, Vivalia counterattacks and has had a film made, “H24”, to explain internal emergencies to the public and support its staff.

Two sessions in Libramont on Monday evening, two in Bastogne on Tuesday evening, two others are planned in Marche on November 14 and (for the moment) one in Arlon on December 3. In all, 1,200 people have already reserved their place to discover “H24”, the Vivalia emergency room seen from the inside. A film which is intended to be a response to criticism of services where, for example in Bastogne, only 20 cases out of the 10,000 annual emergency admissions were the subject of a complaint to the hospital mediator.

“Very, very few patients complain on the networks and yet they have a considerable impact on our work. This is not at all representative of our daily work, of our values… And it does a lot of harm to the teams and it is not at all constructive“, Méghann DIEZ, Head nurse at the emergency room in Bastogne

The H24 film that Vivalia offers is therefore a dual response to the problem: supporting its staff and explaining to the public the functioning and constraints of emergencies. With an analysis of the resources or lack of resources encountered in our hospitals. And a debate of ideas and exchange of experiences. We learned during this debate that emergency doctors from the Red Cross are regularly called and hired to supplement the executives and support the emergency services.

In the room the testimonies are shared. With, as we suspect, an essential and recurring question: will there still be emergencies in Bastogne after the move of the three central-south hospitals (Bastogne, Libramont and Arlon) to Habay-Houdemont?

The challenge of this film as a tool for communication and exchange with the public was far from won in advance. But beyond the 1,200 registered for the sessions, several institutions, schools and municipalities have already expressed their wish to host screenings to inform and raise awareness among their population.