The CGT’s cry of alarm for child psychiatry in Lozère: “We haven’t seen a doctor for three months”

Une trentaine de personnes étaient rassemblées devant l'ARS, à Mende, ce jeudi 16 mai 2024. MIDI LIBRE – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Around thirty caregivers demonstrated in front of the Lozère branch of the Regional Health Agency, at the call of the CGT of the François-Tosquelles hospital center.

Around thirty child psychiatry caregivers in Lozère demonstrate this Thursday, May 16, 2024 in front of the Lozère branch of the Regional Health Agency (ARS), in Mende, at ;#39;call from the CGT of the François-Tosquelles hospital center.

This movement follows the alert launched a year ago, concerning the means of child psychiatry. "We questioned elected officials and the ARS, particularly on the reorganization of the Florac medical-psychological center for children and adolescents. Since then, we have seen the continued deterioration of child psychiatry care in the department", says Christel Courbassier, CGT staff representative and child psychiatry psychologist.

Concerns 

There are only one child psychiatrist in four left in the François-Tosquelles hospital center, which is responsible for several sites in the department. "He has been on sick leave for three months, specifies Christel Courbassier. At the day hospital, we haven't seen a child psychiatrist for three months."

This endangers the continuity of care for children, the reception of new children and summer therapeutic stays, caregivers denounce: "The management of the François-Tosquelles hospital center wants to be reassuring, but if there is no arrival of a child psychiatrist between now and the start of the school year, the hospitals will no longer work."

A delegation presented these concerns to the ARS, before deciding on the follow-up to be given to this mobilization, evoking in particular an inter-union meeting for a united mobilization.