2024-09-17 11:00:12
This is one of the markers of the hospital crisis: hospital practitioners continue to be lacking in the services, year after year, with many positions without holders. But how many, exactly? While the National Management Center (CNG), the ministerial body responsible for competitions and careers of practitioners, no longer mentions this census in its official documents For two years, the National Union of Hospital Anesthesiologist-Resuscitator Practitioners (SNPHAR-E) has obtained and aggregated this data, as of January 1, 2024.
According to his calculations, 35% of positions remain unoccupied by a tenured doctor (full-time and part-time combined). A figure that has stabilized compared to the previous year, after a deterioration has continued over the past fifteen years. In 2008, these vacant positions represented 20% of open positions in hospitals. Some specialties are more severely affected by the loss of interest, such as psychiatry, which is seeing its situation worsen further, with 52% of positions occupied in 2024, compared to almost 75% ten years ago.
“The promised ‘attractiveness shock’ did not happen”
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Table of Contents
“The trend remains extremely alarming”argues anesthesiologist Anne Geffroy-Wernet, president of SNPHAR-E, while acknowledging the limits of this figure. The vacant positions are partly occupied by contract practitioners. This is the argument put forward by the CNG for refusing to publish statistics on the subject, even though it does not have data on contract workers. In July, in its annual report, it reported 48,552 hospital doctors in practice on January 1, 2024, a number that has increased by 13.5% over the last decade. “Contract workers are necessary, but having too many destabilizes hospitals that need stable teams”underlines Dr. Geffroy-Wernet.
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Another limitation: vacant positions also depend on the positions that hospitals decide to open, according to the establishments’ strategies or budgetary difficulties, explains the SNPHAR-E. “But we can clearly see, in any case, that the promised “attractiveness shock” did not take place,” says Anne Geffroy-Wernet. Her union has been regretting for months that negotiations with the government on the attractiveness of the profession have not progressed, while neither the Ségur de la santé plan (2020) nor the more technical reform of the status of hospital practitioner, applied since 2022, have made it possible to reverse the trend.
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– What are the main reasons behind the 35% vacancy rate in hospital positions?
The Silent Crisis: 35% of Hospital Positions Remain Unfilled, Worsening Healthcare Services
As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with the challenges of the 21st century, a silent crisis has been unfolding in the background, threatening to cripple the very fabric of our healthcare system. According to recent data obtained by the National Union of Hospital Anesthesiologist-Resuscitator Practitioners (SNPHAR-E), a staggering 35% of hospital positions remain unfilled, with many specialties struggling to attract and retain qualified practitioners.
The Vacancy Crisis: A Decade-Long Problem
The issue of vacant hospital positions is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has been a pressing concern for over a decade. In 2008, approximately 20% of hospital positions were vacant, a figure that has steadily increased over the years. Today, the situation is more dire than ever, with some specialties, such as psychiatry, experiencing an alarming 52% vacancy rate.
The Consequences of Vacant Positions
The impact of vacant hospital positions cannot be overstated. It leads to increased workload for existing practitioners, compromising the quality of care and contributing to burnout. Moreover, the lack of stability and continuity in hospital teams hinders the delivery of effective healthcare services, putting patients’ lives at risk.
Contract Practitioners: A Temporary Solution?
While contract practitioners may seem like a viable solution to fill the gap, they do not provide the stability and continuity that hospitals need. In fact, an over-reliance on contract workers can destabilize hospitals, making it challenging to build cohesive teams and provide consistent care.
The Limits of Current Statistics
The National Management Center (CNG), responsible for competitions and careers of practitioners, has ceased publishing statistics on vacant positions, citing the limitations of their data. However, SNPHAR-E’s aggregated data, as of January 1, 2024, provides a more comprehensive picture of the crisis.
Hospital Crisis: A Multi-Faceted Problem
The crisis in hospital staffing is part of a larger crisis affecting the healthcare system as a whole. Saturated emergency rooms, bed closures, and the struggles of clinics are all interconnected issues that require a holistic approach to resolution.
The Need for Urgent Action
The silence surrounding this crisis must be broken. It is imperative that policymakers, healthcare administrators, and practitioners come together to address the root causes of the vacancy crisis. This includes reviewing recruitment strategies, enhancing the attractiveness of hospital careers, and adopting innovative solutions to retain top talent.
Conclusion
The silent crisis of vacant hospital positions is a ticking time bomb, threatening to compromise the very fabric of our healthcare system. It is time for stakeholders to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and work towards finding sustainable solutions to this pressing issue. Only by doing so can we ensure that our hospitals are adequately staffed, and our patients receive the quality care they deserve.
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Vacant hospital positions
Healthcare staffing crisis
Hospital practitioners
National Management Center (CNG)
National Union of Hospital Anesthesiologist-Resuscitator Practitioners (SNPHAR-E)
Contract practitioners
Healthcare services
Patient care
Burnout
Hospital teams
Continuous care
Stability in hospitals
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Recruitment strategies
Attractiveness of hospital careers
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Meta Description: The silent crisis of vacant hospital positions is threatening to cripple our healthcare system. Discover the shocking statistics and the consequences of this crisis, and learn why urgent action is needed to address it.
Header Tags:
H1: The Silent Crisis: 35% of Hospital Positions Remain Unfilled, Worsening Healthcare Services
H2: The Vacancy Crisis: A Decade-Long Problem
H2: The Consequences of Vacant Positions
H2: Contract Practitioners: A Temporary Solution?
H2: The Limits of Current Statistics
H2: Hospital Crisis: A Multi-Faceted Problem
H2: The Need for Urgent Action
What are the main factors contributing to the high vacancy rate of hospital positions?
The Silent Crisis: 35% of Hospital Positions Remain Unfilled, Worsening Healthcare Services
The healthcare industry is facing a silent crisis, with a staggering 35% of hospital positions remaining unfilled, leading to a deterioration in healthcare services. This alarming trend has been ongoing for over a decade, with no signs of improvement. According to the National Union of Hospital Anesthesiologist-Resuscitator Practitioners (SNPHAR-E), the number of vacant positions in hospitals has stabilized, but at an unacceptably high level.
The Consequences of Unfilled Positions
The lack of tenured doctors in hospitals has severe consequences for the quality of care provided to patients. With fewer practitioners available, the workload on existing staff increases, leading to burnout and decreased morale. This, in turn, affects the overall performance of hospitals, resulting in saturated emergency rooms, bed closures, and a decline in the quality of care.
Why Are Hospital Positions Unfilled?
Several factors contribute to the high vacancy rate in hospital positions. One of the primary reasons is the lack of attractiveness of the profession. Despite the government’s promises to implement an “attractiveness shock” to make the profession more appealing, little progress has been made. The Ségur de la santé plan (2020) and the reform of the status of hospital practitioners, applied since 2022, have failed to reverse the trend.
Contract Practitioners: A Temporary Fix
While contract practitioners fill some of the vacant positions, they do not provide a stable solution. Contract workers are necessary, but having too many destabilizes hospitals that need stable teams. The National Management Center (CNG) has stopped publishing statistics on vacant positions, citing the presence of contract workers as a reason. However, this does not address the underlying issue of unfilled tenured positions.
Psychiatry: A Particularly Affected Specialty
Some specialties are more severely affected by the lack of interest, with psychiatry being a prime example. In 2024, only 52% of psychiatric positions were occupied, compared to almost 75% ten years ago. This decline has severe consequences for mental health care, which is already understaffed and underfunded.
A Call to Action
The situation is alarming, and immediate action is required to address the crisis. The government and healthcare authorities must work together to make the profession more attractive, improve working conditions, and provide better opportunities for career advancement. Failure to do so will lead to further deterioration in healthcare services, ultimately affecting the health and well-being of patients.
The need for a comprehensive approach
The solution to this crisis lies in adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of the problem. This includes improving the working conditions, salary, and benefits of hospital practitioners, as well as providing opportunities for career advancement and professional development. Additionally, measures need to be taken to make the profession more attractive to young doctors, including provides mentorship programs, flexible working hours, and a better work-life balance.
Conclusion
The silent crisis of unfilled hospital positions is a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode into a full-blown healthcare crisis. It is essential to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and take immediate action to address it. By working together, we can ensure that our healthcare system provides the best possible care to patients, and that hospital practitioners are valued and supported in their critical work.
Keywords: hospitals, practitioner, positions, unfilled, healthcare crisis, attractiveness shock, contract practitioners, psychiatry, mental health care.
