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A simmering dispute over hospital finances and physician performance in Bernay, France, boiled over at a recent municipal council meeting, with the mayor publicly accusing some doctors of collecting paychecks without providing adequate care. The outburst, delivered on February 4, 2026, underscores a growing tension between administrative oversight and medical practice.
The mayor of Bernay publicly criticized doctors she claims are collecting salaries without performing sufficient work, sparking debate about accountability within the local hospital system.
- Mayor Marie-Lyne Vagner voiced frustration over a 48 million euro cumulative hospital deficit.
- She alleged some doctors are not actively consulting or performing operations despite being paid.
- The comments came during a budget debate and sparked a heated exchange with an opposition council member.
- The hospital supervisory board, which Vagner chairs, is grappling with financial challenges and concerns about service delivery.
The debate began as the mayor presented the 2026 budget, a presentation described as “sober,” when opposition member Simon Jaraie raised concerns about housing, school enrollment declines, and the future of the local hospital. Jaraie specifically questioned the decreasing number of surgical beds, the status of cardiology services, and potential cuts to the nursing home as it undergoes reconstruction.
Vagner’s response was swift and forceful. “I’m going to say things and it’s not going to please everyone,” she warned before launching into a pointed critique of certain medical professionals. While clarifying she wasn’t targeting the entire staff, she accused some practitioners of essentially collecting a salary for doing little to no work.
Doctors who are paid and who do nothing. Zero consultation. Zero operations. If you find it normal. And we can’t do anything. Because the hospital’s only right is to pay. But he has no right to reprimand. There are practitioners who work in other hospitals and who come to Bernay at 5 p.m. to say that they are going to do consultations, but they do nothing.
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As president of the hospital supervisory board, Vagner expressed deep concern over the hospital’s financial situation, citing a cumulative deficit of 48 million euros. She reiterated her belief that some doctors are simply “passing the time” and drawing salaries without contributing meaningfully to patient care. “Doctors are right there to pass the time and take money from the hospital, but they do nothing,” she stated.
“How Can We Fire Them?”
Vagner admitted to being “scandalized” by the situation, openly questioning how to address the issue. “I am scandalized,” she said, adding, “Our hospital is just waiting to live.” She wondered aloud, “how we can fire them?” The mayor’s comments came after a public rebuke of a hospital practitioner during a meeting with private doctors last year, where she reportedly demanded he “keep quiet” and acknowledged his presence was solely to maintain his surgical privileges.
Vagner argued for a business-like approach to hospital management, stating, “Doctors can be paid €10,000, €15,000 or €20,000, I don’t care, but they have to work in return.” She criticized those unwilling to fulfill their duties, even for a short period before their scheduled shift ends.
Financial Reliance on Regional Health Agency
Financially, Vagner emphasized the Bernay hospital’s dependence on the Eure-Seine territory hospital group. She explained that the hospital is unable to cover basic expenses, such as human resources positions or even a €1,000 equipment purchase, without assistance from the Regional Health Agency (ARS). “If the ARS had not come, we would not even pay salaries in October – November last year,” she said.
Vagner defended the ARS, whose decisions are often criticized by staff and patient advocates, pointing to the agency’s funding of the rebuilt emergency rooms and the planned reconstruction of the nursing home. “The emergency rooms have been rebuilt, the ARS paid everything,” she noted. The nursing home reconstruction, while reducing capacity to 141 beds, is fully funded by the ARS and the Department.
I am not a president like the others, I am involved, I want to understand why we are at a cumulative deficit of 48 million euros this year.
“The ARS, in 2028, will have given 38 million euros to the hospital, do you think she wants it to close?” she asked rhetorically.
Vagner maintained that the hospital provides a “quality” service but delivered a pointed message to medical professionals: “This job must be done with passion. And if it no longer excites you, you have to take another direction.”
A Risky Intervention Ahead of Elections
The mayor’s outspoken comments came just one month before municipal elections, raising questions about the political implications of her approach. For weeks, her team had been attempting to soften her public image, with a recent open letter to residents emphasizing unity and sensitivity. In the letter, she expressed a desire for “family harmony” and assured residents that any decisions causing upset were not intentional.
However, during the council meeting, Vagner abandoned this strategy, taking the risk of igniting controversy and providing ammunition to critics who accuse her of being undiplomatic and overly assertive.
Assistant Offers Balancing Perspective
In an attempt to mitigate any discomfort caused by the mayor’s remarks, her social action assistant, Sara Feraud, a nurse by profession, addressed the council. “There are some staff who are causing problems at the hospital. But there are a majority of professionals who are very attentive, who sometimes work in difficult circumstances, like at the start of the year,” she emphasized. “Despite this, the patients were treated with compassion and empathy. I encourage everyone to turn to our hospital. I would rather like us to promote everything that exists. And the staff does his best. There are many who do not calculate their hours.”
