2023-12-30 05:00:00
In Chimay, the maternity service at the Fagnes Health Center has been suspended for several months. No more deliveries take place there due to a lack of staff. The shortage of midwives and gynecologists might, in time, permanently doom the place.
In the maternity ward in Chimay, no newborns or young mothers. Most rooms are unoccupied. The empty corridors.
We meet Katia there. A midwife for 25 years, this is the first time she has experienced such a situation. “It’s quite complicated for us, for our patients. We are a small hospital, a small region where everyone knows each other. So as soon as we go shopping or go out: ‘Oh well, it was you when I gave birth, it was you who followed me…’. Obviously, it creates bonds with patients“, Katia Curri tells us.
Head to France for the nearest service
Since April, no more deliveries have taken place in the hospital. Future mothers must go:
- at the Fourmies maternity ward, in France, 20 km away
- or give birth in Charleroi, more than 40 km away.
The reason? A lack of gynecologists. “Seven gynecologists would be a truly complete shift so that it would be completely secure. Already at the national level, it is difficult to find healthcare personnel, to find specialized doctors. But then, in a sector that is a little remote, it is even more complicated to be able to recruit staff“, specifies Frédéric Dubois, communications manager of the HUmani Santé Charleroi-Chimay Network.
Strengthened support
In the establishment, deliveries are suspended, but support before and following birth is reinforced. “We already had an activity of a whole series of prenatal preparations, whether individual or collective. Mom massages, baby massages, etc. Soon, we will offer pre-natal and post-natal yoga and there are other treatments that might be provided, such as hyperglycemia.“, explains Véronique Louppe, director of the care department at the Fagnes Health Center.
Final decision in September 2024
In September 2024, a decision will be made: either the maternity ward reopens with new gynecologists, or it closes permanently.
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