France maternity ward report recommends closures amid staffing shortages

A government report submitted to Health Minister Stéphanie Rist on September 29, 2026, recommends the closure of several low-activity maternity wards in France. The experts behind the report, including Loïc Sentilhes, Marie-Pierre Bonnet, and Elsa Kermorvant, describe the current model as “insoutenable” due to declining birth rates and severe staffing shortages. They propose replacing these facilities with local perinatality centers to ensure better safety and more efficient resource management.

The proposal has sparked significant political and professional tension. Eliette Bruneau, co-president of the National Association of Private Midwives (ANSLF), withdrew from the expert mission in protest. She criticized the report for being “trop hospitalo-centré” (too hospital-centric) and argued that it neglects the vital role of community-based midwives. Bruneau expressed concern that concentrating births in large hospitals without integrating local practitioners fails to address the root causes of maternal and infant mortality issues.