A year later, salary increases have not calmed the anger

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It was to be a big bang for health. A year ago, on July 21, the long consultations led to 33 measures called the “Ségur de la santé”. Objective: to improve working conditions, salaries and attractiveness of careers in hospitals and nursing homes, in particular for paramedics. A missed appointment? 20 minutes make the point.

More than 8 billion euros for salary increases

The ministry has released an envelope of 8.2 billion euros to increase wages. Which resulted this year in three episodes: in September, a first installment allowed an increase of 90 euros net monthly, then in December a second
to reach the promised 183 euros. Which affected nearly 2 million professionals in public and private health establishments and nursing homes: nurses, nursing assistants, midwives, radio operators, medical secretaries, etc.

A third stage, in April 2021, provides for upgrading of careers for 500,000 paramedics, depending on seniority: 107 euros per month more for a nurse after one year, 278 after twenty years of work. A revaluation that will wait until October 1, 2021 in the public and 2022 in the private sector. “A historic boost”, greets Frédéric Valletoux, president of the Hospital Federation of France (FHF).

The discomfort continues

Despite everything, this effort seems insufficient: these announcements have not stopped departures from hospitals. In the public as in the private sector, since the Federation of private hospitalization is also moved by “alarming shortages of health professionals, especially paramedics”. Worrying, while France is at risk of facing a fourth wave of Covid-19 and healthcare staff need vacations …

“In the North Paris hospital group, salary increases have slightly reduced the number of vacant positions,” recognizes Olivier Milleron, cardiologist at theBichat hospital (APHP) and member of
Inter Hospitals Collective (CIH). But we still have 500 beds closed out of 4,500 due to lack of staff. One proof among others that the hospital is struggling to attract and keep its teams. “Before Ségur, we were at -20% of the European average salary, today we are at -10%, we continue to be exploited”, storm Thierry Amouroux, spokesperson for
National Union of Nursing Professionals. “For that to work, it would be necessary to arrive rather at an increase of 500 euros per month”, advance Olivier Milleron.

Still degraded working conditions

Above all, many argue that working conditions have not changed one iota. The chronic understaffing, the lack of time, the change of schedule or service discourage some. “The only improvement after Ségur is the salary,” notes Guillaume Gontard, president of the
National Federation of Nursing Assistants Associations (Fnaas). But we really have to tackle the worksite of overhauling the health system. “

A mixed report recognized by the president of the Hospital Federation of France : “Of the four projects opened, it remains to tackle the financing of the system, simplification and the territorial approach. “” Attractiveness depends on salaries, but not only: our work must have a meaning, we must not be forced to choose profitable patients and we must not be under the thumb of small leaders disconnected from the field ”, continues Olivier Milleron. Precisely, the question of management remains unresolved. In a press release, the Association of Emergency Physicians of France points out “hospital management, which should be benevolent in view of the situation, is too often authoritarian, sometimes harassing and demanding submission”.

For years, some caregivers have requested that the means be adapted starting from the field. With a definition of ratios for caregivers per patient according to needs, not hospital resources. A work still in progress … But after a first wave of Covid-19 where caregivers were able to take some liberties, the saving measures have returned at a gallop.

Imposing health in the electoral campaign

“The people who took pains during the Covid-19, during the Segur, have the impression that it was useless, blows Olivier Milleron. We were asking for a change in philosophy for the hospital. What Macron said moreover: “we must see health as an opportunity, and not as a cost”. But at the hospital, we went back to accounting reasoning. “Same regret on the side of Thierry Amouroux:” The managers ask us to chain technical acts. ” A missed opportunity to disrupt our health system while the problem of inequalities, medical deserts, lack of communication between city and hospital persist and worsen.

Many are looking towards 2022, knowing that the next few months will not be conducive to carrying out major reforms. “There is a good one day when we will get out of this Covid-19 crisis! Frédéric Valletoux. We must make health a major subject of the campaign. “

Precisely, the collective “Our hospital is you”, take action. With other associations, he tabled a bill to “ universal access to a quality public hospital service “, Wednesday July 7, to the Constitutional Council. Goal ? Open a
shared initiative referendum (RIP) on this text. “Which takes up our main demands on governance, the mode of financing, the working conditions”, explains Olivier Milleron. A few months before the election, he hopes that this initiative will make enough noise for health to become an essential subject in the presidential debate. “And not just security! “





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