Let's talk about staffing

In March, PSI affiliate CFDT, France, held a week-long survey on staffing. The union received 2,587 responses to the survey; the level of results shows that French health care staff are keen to have their voices heard.

The participants in the survey were 86% women, mostly full-time workers. Nurses represented 42%, while nursing aides, medical-psychological assistants and hospital cleaners represented 46%. Of those who responded, 76% work in the public sector, 17% in private non-profit and 7% in the private sector. 45% of the professionals who participated work in hospitals and 25% in elderly care homes.

56% of survey respondents felt that the workforce present on the day their workplaces were visited for the survey was not enough to guarantee service quality and that this could undermine delivery of adequate care, and the patients’ dignity, despite the efforts of the workers. However, 64% describe their day as normal or habitual.

Only 48% had enough time to take their breaks as scheduled, while 34% worked more than the expected duration of their day.

The study of actual staff ratios during this survey week will require more precise figures.

The findings will be passed on to the 1,294 participants who left their contact details.
We are very grateful to all those who have joined the staffing survey with the CFDT; 600 of them have shared their testimonies, some of which are very touching. We are sure that because of them, our campaign #Jesuisunerichesse (I am worthy) will continue as a rallying call to defend health professionals.

By Nathalie CANIEUX, General Secretary, CFDT Santé Sociaux

This article is an extract from the “Right to Health” newsletter issue 02/2017. Subscribe to the newsletter. Send us your stories.