2023-12-27 06:32:00
Mélanie Lampe, you are an ophthalmologist in Fauvillers and in February, you launched a petition to warn of the present and future shortage in your profession in our province. Was there a sequel?
In total, we collected around 2,000 signatures and following an email sent to Vivalia doctors, around forty joined my fight against the medical shortage in our country. From which a group of 8 emerged, including Guy Delrée, Vincent Delrue and myself. Thanks to the support of Benoît Piedboeuf (MR), a delegation was able to meet Minister Valérie Glatigny. This was a bit disappointing, because we didn’t feel that much was planned at government level. We were referred to the health care dispatch manager, but there was no further action.
But have things still changed?
Not at the system level, but personally, a sentence from the minister struck me, saying that those on the ground had a role to play and could help, by creating a medical center for example. At first, this shocked me a little. Then I told myself that I would be helped more quickly by myself than by waiting for political decisions. So, I had the idea of creating an ophthalmological medical center in Fauvillers. And incredible, but true, since then, I have had several requests from future ophthalmologists. Two or three will join me in this future center, which should open at the end of 2024, beginning of 2025. We have just had all the agreements and the work should begin in the spring. I’m really delighted with it.
For this project, do you have public financial support?
No, I have made requests for financial aid from the Province and the Region, but the response is negative, because I do not fall within the framework. At least I won’t owe anyone anything. The story ends well. With a big rant, I end the year with great promises. But I regret the glaring lack of political support. Finally, what disappointed me the most was the medical union, which was contacted first, but which never gave a response.
And Vivalia in all this?
I have to highlight enormous support from Vivalia at management level in Arlon.
We are also going to develop a project in parallel, with the creation of ophthalmological consultation offices within the hospital, first in Arlon then, later, in Houdemont. This seemed logical to me given the applications.
How did you find these ophthalmologist candidates? Do they have a link with our province?
The three motivated to come all have a link to our province, through themselves or their spouse. Finally, it was through my patients, who had heard about my fight and who had knowledge that might be suitable. For example, a lady referred me to her granddaughter’s partner.
Will the petition still have been useful?
Yes, it was thanks to media coverage that I found the staff to fill this center. It was not a useless fight, in the end, I am very happy to create this center. It will include 3 or 4 ophthalmologists plus two orthoptists. And the goal will be to help young people to develop, then for them to create their own structure, to rotate, to be a sort of incubator for ophthalmologists.
If this center is a plus, is the overall situation still bad here?
Yes, the rest is a disaster. Considering those who are going to stop, it would take 20 ophthalmologists to reach the Belgian average. Let’s say that it will calm the wave.
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