By the end of 2023, nearly 4,900 full hospitalization beds were lost, continuing a decline that began in 2013, resulting in a total loss of 43,500 beds. Although some partial hospitalization places have increased, the overall trend shows a shift towards ambulatory care, exacerbated by workforce shortages. The reduction in bed capacity strains healthcare facilities and emergency services, raising concerns among healthcare professionals as budget debates continue amidst ongoing protests over insufficient funding.
The ongoing hospital crisis is highlighted by the elimination of nearly 4,900 full hospitalization beds in 2023 alone, illustrating a persistent trend of decreasing capacity. Since late 2013, the total loss amounts to approximately 43,500 beds, according to a recent study released by the Drees.
As of December 31, 2023, a total of 369,423 full hospitalization beds were available across 2,962 public, private, and non-profit hospitals, representing a reduction of 4,867 beds compared to the previous year (-1.3%), as noted by the statistical department of the social ministries.
In contrast, the same period saw the creation of 3,489 partial hospitalization places, which do not require overnight stays, marking a 4.1% increase and bringing the total to 88,504. Unlike full beds, day places can accommodate multiple patients on a daily basis.
Drees attributes the decreasing number of full beds to a long-standing trend, where public authorities aim to shift care toward more ‘ambulatory’ options. Additionally, staff shortages have hindered the ability to maintain operational beds.
Since the end of 2013, healthcare facilities have experienced a 10.5% decline in full hospitalization beds, equating to a loss of 43,500, while the establishment of 20,900 partial hospitalization places reflects a 31% increase during the same timeframe.
The rate of decline in full hospitalization capacity has accelerated in the past four years compared to the period preceding the health crisis, which saw an average annual decrease of about 0.9% from 2013 to 2019.
– Continuous Decline –
Promises made by former health minister Aurélien Rousseau in autumn 2023 to ‘reopen several thousand beds by the end of the year’ have yet to materialize. He noted that closures were not due to budgetary constraints, but rather the ‘lack of attractiveness’ in healthcare professions.
Despite these challenges, the reduction in available beds in 2023 was less severe than in 2022, a year that saw a closure of more than 6,700 full hospitalization beds.
The Drees report also indicates a continuing drop in psychiatry beds (-2.4%), particularly within the public sector.
Conversely, the capacity for home hospitalization is on the rise, increasing by 4.1% to accommodate 24,100 patients receiving care simultaneously across the nation.
Healthcare professionals have vocally expressed concerns regarding the decline in available beds, citing increased pressure on staff, heightened tensions within emergency departments, and a growing exodus of professionals from hospital settings.
– Budgetary Concerns –
These statistics surface during ongoing parliamentary discussions of the 2025 social security budget, which the government aims to limit to a deficit of 16 billion euros, down from 18 billion in 2024.
The anticipated increase in healthcare expenditure for the hospital sector is projected at only +3.1%, falling short of the +6% requested by the French Hospital Federation (FHF, public sector).
In response, four health sector unions—CGT, FO, Sud, and Unsa—have announced strike actions scheduled from November 4 to December 21 to protest against the proposed budget.
Meanwhile, the left is advocating for a vote by December in the National Assembly on a proposed law—already approved by the Senate—that mandates a minimum ratio of caregivers to patients in hospitals.