French Hospitals Continue Bed Closures in 2024, Though at a Slower Pace

French hospitals and clinics reduced their full hospitalization beds by 2,300 in 2024, marking a 0.6% decrease. This continues a downward trend in hospital bed capacity that has persisted for over 20 years. However, the rate of closure in 2024 was less pronounced than in the preceding three years, showing a slight slowdown in the reduction.

Official data consolidated by the social ministries' statistical services (Drees) revealed that at the end of 2024, the country's hospitals and clinics totaled 367,100 full hospitalization beds and 91,000 partial hospitalization places. While full hospitalization beds decreased, capacity for partial hospitalization saw an increase of 2.9% in 2024, a pace faster than before the COVID-19 health crisis. Home hospitalization capacity also grew by 5.5%, enabling simultaneous care for 25,400 patients.

The activity in partial hospitalization grew strongly by 5.7% in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Home hospitalization activity also accelerated, increasing by 10.4%. In contrast, full hospitalization activity increased more moderately at 1.4%, with the number of stays remaining below pre-pandemic figures.

Following a decrease in 2023, emergency room visits surged by 2.5% in 2024, reaching 21.3 million. This rise occurred despite ongoing measures to limit patient influx, such as the generalization of the care access service (Samu-SAS). The Drees noted that this increase is happening as France experiences a third heatwave in less than two months, exacerbating the strain on hospital staff and patients already struggling with inadequate air conditioning, exhaustion, and staff shortages. Healthcare workers frequently criticize bed closures, which they argue contribute to these pressures.

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This rise has occurred despite the ongoing generalization of the care access service (Samu-SAS), among other measures implemented to limit patient influx or due to a lack of personnel.