The government is acting after the Covid-19 crisis.
The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, announced this Thursday the creation of 1,000 additional intensive care beds from 2023, during the presentation of the "Critical care 2022 - 2025" roadmap, the aim of which is to “strengthen the critical care sector in France and arm it to better face the health crises of tomorrow”, explains the Ministry of Health in a press release.
These 1,000 additional resuscitation beds, which are divided between the reopening of 500 beds and the creation of 500 post-resuscitation rehabilitation care beds, had been promised by Olivier Véran in February, and recommended by a report from the General Inspectorate of social affairs (Igas).
According to the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees), France had 5,400 intensive care beds in 2019.
Bonus of 100 euros for intensive care nurses
Olivier Véran also announced the establishment of a ratio of one nurse for four beds in critical care, which includes resuscitation services, intensive care units and monitoring units, and the establishment of a bonus 100 euros for intensive care nurses.
The Minister of Health also promised a health reserve made up of “staff trained in critical care and maintained in competence” in order to “deal with exceptional health situations”.
Finally, Olivier Véran announced “a rapid catch-up in certain regions, in particular Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Guyana and Mayotte” where intensive care capacities are “far below national averages”.
