‘War zone’

Laval’s 12storey hospital, built in 1974, has more than

1000 beds and admits 40,000 patients a year but has too few doctors. A lack of funds means some patients summon nurses with oldfashioned handbells.

‘‘It is true that we are experiencing some kind of depression,’’ said AndreGwenael Pors, the hospital’s director, citing understaffing, budget constraints and a proliferation of regulations in recent years.

Olivier Guihery, a general practitioner who divides his time between a Laval practice and several retirement homes, said he and his colleagues sometimes work 100 hours a week with little or no time for rest or holidays. It is so tough they call it ‘‘warzone’’ medicine.

‘‘We are on the verge of burning out all the time but we have no choice but to continue,’’ he said.

Doctors who spoke to Reuters welcomed Macron’s plans to overhaul the system but also had concerns.

Pors said the reforms needed to be spelled out in more detail. Ollivier was wary about the recruitment of medical assistants for basic tasks.

‘‘Getting help with the paperwork is great but do we really want these assistants to take blood pressure or body temperature, like in Britain? These are highly sensitive human actions,’’ Ollivier said.

‘‘Many of us are sceptical. We feel like all these decisions are taken in cities and offices, away from the reality of rural areas.’’