BOURGES, France – The Centre Hospitalier (CH) de Bourges experienced a period of stagnation in 2025, despite increased recruitment efforts and the opening of latest services late in the year, hospital leadership recently reported. This comes as French hospitals continue to navigate challenges related to staffing shortages and financial pressures. The hospital saw a 3% decrease in outpatient activity, only partially offset by a slight 2% increase in full hospitalizations, according to data shared during the annual “vœux” address.
The slowdown in outpatient visits is prompting a focused review of services, with hospital administrators planning a dedicated seminar this spring to “share and structure the dynamics of pathways,” according to reports. This initiative aims to understand the factors contributing to the decline and develop strategies to revitalize this crucial area of patient care. The CH de Bourges is also grappling with a renewed financial deficit, rising to “a little more than 5 million euros” in 2025, after briefly falling below that threshold in 2024. Total annual expenses reached 238 million euros, a figure largely attributed to the significant investment in staffing over the past two years.
Staffing Increases and Ongoing Vacancies
The hospital has been actively working to address chronic staffing shortages. In 2025, 36 physicians were recruited, a 52% increase compared to the 19 departures, primarily due to retirement. Alongside physician recruitment, the hospital onboarded 80 newly qualified nurses (IDE). Despite these gains, 24 IDE positions remain vacant, including 12 night shifts, though this represents a substantial improvement from the 70 vacancies reported in June 2023. These ongoing vacancies highlight the broader challenges facing the French healthcare system in attracting and retaining qualified personnel.
New Services and Infrastructure Investments
Despite the financial and activity challenges, the CH de Bourges has continued to expand its service offerings. The polyvalent intensive care unit (Usip) and a new dental center both opened in September 2025. The dental center represents a 1 million euro investment, half of which was funded by the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Centre-Val de Loire, and features three treatment chairs, a significant upgrade from the previous single chair capacity.
In December 2025, the hospital inaugurated its Maison des femmes-santé (Women’s Health House), a new facility connected to the emergency services of the Cher departmental hospital group (GHT). This center provides a comprehensive range of women’s health services, staffed by a multidisciplinary team including a forensic physician, general practitioner, gynecologist, midwife, psychologist, nurse, social worker, medical secretary, and health manager. As of February 12, 2026, the Maison des femmes-santé had already served approximately 70 patients.
Addressing Winter Strain and Modernizing Imaging
To alleviate pressure on emergency services during peak winter months, the hospital activated its new seasonal winter unit (USH) for the first time in early January. This 15-bed unit has provided care for nearly 40 patients to date. The CH de Bourges has also joined the regional shared medical imaging platform (Pimm), launched in 2023 by the ARS, to ensure continuous access to imaging equipment. This platform, comprised of 20 radiologists from 11 public hospitals, centralizes the interpretation of urgent scans and MRIs, and coordinates regional on-call schedules.
Future Developments: New Nursing Home and Nephrology Expansion
Construction is underway on a new nursing home (Ehpad) in Taillegrain, with demolition of the former nursing school building completed. Work on the main structure is expected to continue through the summer, with completion anticipated in the fall of 2027. This new facility will provide 98 beds and represents an investment exceeding 14 million euros, supported by the Cher departmental council and the ARS.
Looking ahead to 2026, the hospital anticipates significant growth in nephrology and hemodialysis services. The CH de Bourges has received approvals to expand its medical dialysis unit (UDM), offering both in-center and at-home dialysis options. Plans are in motion to create the UDM by the end of 2026, adding four additional stations and increasing dialysis capacity by eight treatments per day, responding to the growing needs of the population.
The hospital is also prioritizing digital transformation, aiming to fully digitize administrative processes to reduce wait times at admissions. This initiative, currently implemented in 12 departments, will be rolled out across all services throughout 2026. In collaboration with the CH de Sancerre, the hospital has initiated a 16 million euro modernization project for the medical-social building at the Sancerre facility, currently in the planning and design phase.
To accommodate the increasing number of interns, the Château des Gadeaux, which provides intern housing, is undergoing renovations to create more modern and welcoming spaces. Long-term plans include the construction of a new 120-bed intern residence.
The CH de Bourges continues to adapt to evolving healthcare demands, balancing financial constraints with a commitment to expanding services and improving patient care. The next key milestone will be the completion of the UDM expansion by the end of 2026, a project aimed at addressing the growing need for nephrology services in the region.
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