French hospitals are in trouble - The lack of staff combined with the current bronchiolitis epidemic is leading to many emergency departments in French hospitals being unable to accommodate patients in correct conditions. Speaking to journalist on Tuesday France’s health minister declared that “hospitals are in big trouble, everyone knows that”. At the beginning of the week the Regional Health Agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where 5% of beds are closed due to lack of staff, announced the implementation of level 2 of the “white plan” in all establishments in the Gironde. A decision which follows "the context of difficulties and prolonged difficulties in several emergency services in the department, now affecting the activities of the ambulance service. Last week, two hospitals in Rouen and Le Havre, had also triggered the same device. Today several thousand paediatric caregivers are expected to demonstrate towards the Elysée to show their dissatisfaction. In response to this hospital crisis, Health Minister François Braun had on Sunday announced "an action plan of 150 million euros" for the hospital services starting with paediatrics, for next spring. Today, the minister again insisted on the financial assistance that the government wishes to allocate.
The French Ministry of Transport has announced that tolls on the main motorway networks will increase by 4.75% on average on 1 February. ...
