La Seyne maternity ward closes

The Mayor of La Seyne, Marc Vuillemot, has fought the closure of the site for a number of months now. In an attempt to stop the closure he cycled 950 kilometres to Paris to submit a petition against the plans. 20,000 residents also disapproved of the unit's closure. 

The PACA Regional Health Agency (ARS) told local media that they would "continue monitoring and supporting the pregnant mothers at the Seyne unit, but would transfer them to Saint-Musse to deliver the babies."

According to the ARS, the project "is a way of providing better care for patients, while appropriately utilising public spending." 

The Regional Health Agency also supports "the creation of a new emergency service line and intensive care unit, which will provide emergency travel between the two sites." 

A perinatal centre will also open in order to ensure "continued support for ladies from the Seyne site." As well as a new day hospital for the young and a child psychiatry centre. 

Vuillemot expressed his sorrow for the 200,000 residents who "are now deprived of obstetrics in the area… It's unacceptable."

Sarah Lloyd