2024-09-06 14:46:31
Following their orders to order the State to act on health in their territory, fifteen mayors of Côtes-d’Armor were at the administrative court of Rennes on September 3, 2024. DONOVAN GOUGEON/MAXPPP
This is a new and unconventional way of raising the alarm that several rural mayors have decided to use, in the face of the difficulties in accessing healthcare that are hitting their territories hard. In Brittany, since June, fifty-five elected officials in Côtes-d’Armor have issued a decree aimed at responding to the “disturbances of public order” aroused by “a health provision that is clearly insufficient to guarantee equal access to care [leurs] administered ».
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They are calling on the State to set up a “emergency health access plan” and of “to provide staff and resources to public hospitals in the department”under penalty of a fine of 1,000 euros per day. At the end of August, the mayor (various left) of Digne-les-Bains followed suit, signing a similar decree, as did around thirty mayors in her department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
The legal process seems to have limited chances of success, but the approach is also intended to be political. “We mobilize on a recurring basis for our hospital services in Carhaix [Finistère]in Lannion [Côtes-d’Armor]in Guingamp [Côtes-d’Armor]but it doesn’t lead to anything, there is never any dialogue with the regional health agency, the ministry, the State… we wanted to change our method of action”explains Gaël Roblin, elected (left-wing independence) to the municipal council of Guingamp, at the origin of the approach. “The Guingamp maternity unit has been closed for a year and a half, points out Vincent le Meaux, one of the signatory mayors and president of the Guingamp-Paimpol urban area“It is regrettable to have to go to court, but we finally want to get answers, mediation.”
Very concrete requests
Table of Contents
- 1 Very concrete requests
- 2 Here are the PAA (People Also Ask) related questions for the title **”French Mayors Take a Stand: Demanding Action on Healthcare Access”**:
- 3 Here’s a “People Also Ask” (PAA) related question for the title **French Mayors Take a Stand: Demanding Action on Healthcare Access**:
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The State did not, however, follow up: as part of the legality review, the prefect of Côtes-d’Armor referred the orders to the administrative court, requesting their cancellation. A first hearing in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine), Tuesday, September 3, to which fifteen mayors were summoned, saw the public rapporteur lean towards the prefect. According to his comments reported by Agence France-Presse: the orders would be “illegal”the mayors having been “beyond their police powers”Around ten other Breton officials have been summoned next week, while a first decision is expected in mid-September.
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In these regulatory texts, the same argument is developed: access to care is a “essential condition” respect for dignity, and the absence of corrective measures to ensure it “seriously harms human dignity and constitutes a de facto disturbance of public order”. The mayor holding “the administrative police authority”he can therefore take such an order to put an end to this disturbance.
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French Mayors Take a Stand: Demanding Action on Healthcare Access
In a bold and unconventional move, several rural mayors in France have taken a stand against the difficulties in accessing healthcare in their territories. Since June, fifty-five elected officials in Côtes-d’Armor have issued a decree calling on the State to set up an “emergency health access plan” and provide staff and resources to public hospitals in the department. This move is a response to the “disturbances of public order” caused by the clearly insufficient healthcare provision that fails to guarantee equal access to care [[1]].
The mayors are not alone in their fight. At the end of August, the mayor of Digne-les-Bains followed suit, signing a similar decree, as did around thirty mayors in her department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This collective effort is aimed at drawing attention to the lack of access to healthcare in rural areas and the need for the State to take action to address this critical issue [[2]].
The approach, although unconventional, is not without precedent. In 2020, nine mayors in western France issued a symbolic “sickness ban” to highlight the lack of local doctors and the difficulties in accessing healthcare in their regions [[3]]. This move was seen as a way to raise awareness about the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare services.
The mayors’ decrees are not just symbolic; they are backed by concrete demands. They are calling on the State to provide staff and resources to public hospitals in their departments, under penalty of a fine of 1,000 euros per day. This is a significant step, as it acknowledges the severity of the situation and the need for immediate action to address the shortages in healthcare provision.
However, the legal process is not without its challenges. The State has referred the orders to the administrative court, requesting their cancellation. The public rapporteur has leaned towards the prefect, stating that the orders would be “illegal” and that the mayors have been “beyond their police powers” [[1]]. This is a setback, but the mayors remain committed to their cause and are determined to see it through.
The fight for healthcare access is not unique to rural areas. The French healthcare system as a whole is facing challenges, including access to care, over-reliance on hospitals, and a lack of focus on preventive care [[2]]. These challenges are compounded by the difficulties in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas.
the mayors’ initiative is a timely reminder of the need for action on healthcare access in rural areas. Their bold move has brought attention to the issue and has sparked a national conversation about the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare services. As the legal process unfolds, it is crucial that the State takes heed of the mayors’ demands and works towards finding a solution to this critical issue.
References:
[2] Nine mayors in western France issue sickness ban in protest over healthcare access
[3] French mayors issue sickness ban in protest over healthcare access
[1] What Are the Challenges Ahead for the French Healthcare System?
SEO keywords: French healthcare system, healthcare access, rural areas, mayors’ initiative, healthcare professionals, public hospitals, emergency health access plan.
French Mayors Take a Stand: Demanding Action on Healthcare Access
In a bold move, fifteen mayors from Côtes-d’Armor were summoned to the administrative court of Rennes on September 3, 2024, to demand action on healthcare access in their territories. This unconventional approach is a cry for help, highlighting the difficulties their rural areas are facing in accessing healthcare. The mayors, representing fifty-five elected officials, have issued a decree calling on the State to establish an “emergency health access plan” and provide staff and resources to public hospitals in their department.
The legal process may have limited chances of success, but this tactic is also intended to be political. The mayors have had enough of mobilizing for their hospital services without seeing any results or dialogue with the regional health agency, the ministry, or the State. Gaël Roblin, an elected official from Guingamp, explained that they wanted to change their method of action. “We mobilize on a recurring basis for our hospital services in Carhaix, Lannion, and Guingamp, but it doesn’t lead to anything. There is never any dialogue with the regional health agency, the ministry, the State… we wanted to change our method of action.”
The mayors are not alone in their struggle. The mayor of Digne-les-Bains, along with thirty other mayors in her department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, have signed similar decrees. The situation is dire, with medical services having fallen by more than a third in 30% of all villages [[2]]. In fact, nine mayors in western France have even banned falling ill, in a symbolic move to highlight the lack of local doctors [[3]].
The State has not followed up on the mayors’ orders, referring them to the administrative court and requesting their cancellation. A first hearing in Rennes saw the public rapporteur lean towards the prefect, deeming the orders “illegal” and stating that the mayors had gone “beyond their police powers.” Around ten other Breton officials have been summoned next week, with a first decision expected in mid-September.
In these regulatory texts, the same argument is developed: access to care is an essential condition for respect for dignity, and the absence of corrective measures to ensure it seriously harms human dignity and constitutes a de facto disturbance of public order. The mayor, holding administrative police power, is taking a stand to demand concrete action.
Very Concrete Requests
The mayors are calling for very concrete actions to address the healthcare crisis in their territories. They want the State to:
Establish an emergency health access plan
Provide staff and resources to public hospitals in their department
* Guarantee equal access to care for all citizens
The situation is critical, and the mayors are no longer willing to wait for answers. They want mediation and concrete results to ensure the health and well-being of their citizens.
The Crisis in Healthcare Access
The crisis in healthcare access is not limited to Côtes-d’Armor or Brittany. Emergency services are still under pressure throughout France, with partial closures and explosion in waiting times [[1]]. In fact, a deterioration in emergency services this summer has been reported by 39% of public hospitals [[1]]. Rural areas are hit the hardest, with medical services falling by more than a third in 30% of all villages [[2]].
The mayors’ bold move is a cry for help, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the healthcare
