The emergency department of Chamonix, managed by the Hospitals of the Pays du Mont-Blanc, will close on March 24th.
Mayor of Chamonix, Éric Fournier, is very unpleased with this situation: "This aggravates the dismantling of the local health system."
On the other hand, such angry outbursts came as a surprise to the Hospital management.
Jean-Rémi Richard, General Manager of the Hospitals of Mont-Blanc Country, who arrived at the head of the structure a year and a half ago, states that he was very surprised at the mayor's reaction.
"We opened on December 23rd and closed on March 25th last year, the same duration as this year. We settle on the school holidays. We try to calibrate according to needs. I was not even aware that this date was displeasing. ", Jean-Rémi Richard argues.
Although the dates are almost the same as they were last year, the mayor complains about the "slow erosion of emergencies", stating that in 2016 the emergency department of Chamonix had been opened for one more month.
Moreover, the mayor requested in 2018 for an extension, so the dates of opening of the emergency department would correspond to those of the skiing season but the request was declined. "This disengagement is unacceptable and accounts for a strictly accounting management of health," says Eric Fournier.
More information:
The Chamonix Hospital is located here.
The A&E Services at Chamonix hospital provide first aid and primary care for minor 'walk-in' emergencies. In the case of serious emergencies and accidents, victims are transported as standard procedure, directly to Sallanches hospital, by ambulance or by helicopter.
The emergency department of Chamonix is opened only during winter and summer seasons and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Off-season or during night time, victims are transported to Sallanches hospital.
The emergency department will be closed on the 24th of March and will be re-opened at the beginning of summer season. Exact date will be published as soon as available.
