Emergency departments in teh Rouen area of France are facing important strain as a surge in patients – driven largely by a widespread outbreak of bronchiolitis – overwhelms local hospitals during the busy holiday season. The University Hospital of Rouen (CHU de Rouen) announced Monday evening that its pediatric emergency department is especially impacted, with extended wait times for non-severe cases despite staff mobilization. Neighboring Clinique du Cèdre in Bois-Guillaume has enacted regulated access to its emergency department, requiring patients to contact emergency services before presenting, highlighting the broader regional impact of the current healthcare pressures.
Emergency pediatric departments at the University Hospital of Rouen (CHU de Rouen) are facing significant strain, the hospital announced Monday evening. A surge in patients, partially due to a widespread outbreak of bronchiolitis, is contributing to the increased pressure, particularly during the current holiday season.
The pediatric emergency department at CHU de Rouen is experiencing a particularly high volume of patients, the hospital stated. Despite a substantial mobilization of staff, the department remains under pressure, and wait times are significantly extended for non-severe cases.
The current situation is largely attributed to an epidemic of bronchiolitis. Hospital officials are urging patients to avoid unnecessary visits to the pediatric emergency department and instead contact emergency services appropriately.
The emergency department at Clinique du Cèdre in Bois-Guillaume is operating under regulated access.
Clinique du Cèdre in Bois-Guillaume, near Rouen, is also facing staffing shortages and is adjusting its emergency department operations. “A regulation of access to the emergency department by the SAMU (emergency medical services) is being implemented,” the clinic explained in a Facebook post.
This regulation, in effect from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. beginning Wednesday evening and lasting through Saturday, aims to manage patient flow. During this period, the clinic is advising patients not to present to the emergency department spontaneously. “Patients requiring urgent medical care must call 15 (the French emergency number) systematically,” the clinic added.
