20% of patients without a treating doctor in Aveyron in 2023: the situation is becoming alarming in the face of the medical desert

According to the rapporteurs, the territorial organization of primary care in Aveyron must be improved to be more effective. Centre Presse – Maxime Lacaze

It is no longer a secret to anyone, but Aveyron is one of the French departments most impacted by the situation of medical deserts. The latest report from the Court of Auditors and the Regional and Territorial Chamber of Auditors reminds us of this.

It is no longer a secret to anyone that Aveyron is one of the French departments most affected by the situation of medical deserts. The latest report from the Court of Auditors and the Regional and Territorial Chamber of Auditors reminds us of this.

According to figures provided by the Aveyron CPAM, 20% of patients in the department no longer had a primary care physician in 2023. “An unacceptable situation”, according to Valérie Renet, president of the Occitanie Regional Chamber. “It gives a feeling of abandonment to many of our fellow citizens and a justified discontent”, she continues.

Between 30 and 60 minutes for emergencies

In their case study, the two main protagonists provide a method to follow and made three observations. The first concerns access conditions, recognized as increasingly difficult. As supply decreases, demand for care tends to increase. In Aveyron, it is experiencing inflation because the local population is aging more than the national average. But the department finds itself subject to a lack of medical resources, particularly in the south. Main consequence, the average times to obtain appointments are lengthening. Aveyron also finds itself subject to geographical constraints, which makes the conditions of access to medical services more complex. A large proportion of the department's inhabitants are located between 30 and 60 minutes from an emergency service.

Second, the report indicates that the many measures implemented by public authorities are not targeted enough. "Not all territories do everything correctly", points out Laurent Rabaté, advisor to the Court of Auditors. He nevertheless highlights good practices in Aveyron, between health homes, local health contracts and doctors' reception units, which notably makes it possible to generalize internships. Efforts are welcomed even if "things must be better coordinated to absorb the white areas", certifies Laurent Rabaté.

Focus "on results to be achieved"

To be more effective, the president of the Regional and Territorial Chamber indicates that "the policy of access to care must no longer only focus on the multiplication of systems, but also on the results to be achieved". Community aid could, for example, be refocused on movable and real estate investments, that is to say the contraction, redevelopment, equipment of health homes, health centers or secondary practices in underdense areas.

The era of «the heroism of doctors is over»

This last option is also valid in Aveyron to cope with the lack of resources. Thus, doctors would travel for one or two days to an external practice, financed by the communities and the ARS. "Currently, we do not replace one doctor for one doctor but one for three, recognizes Line Mazuir, the financial magistrate at the origin of the report . We relied a lot on the heroism of doctors, but those days are over", she concludes.

I subscribe to read more