# French healthcare service strain > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-healthcare-service-strain > Updated: 2026-10-14T22:41:53.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. French emergency and hospital services are experiencing significant operational strain due to overcrowding and staffing shortages. In September, the CHU de Nîmes activated its highest level of tension management to handle a surge in emergency room visits. A broader report by the Samu-Urgences de France (SUdF) union detailed a national crisis, noting that heatwaves and fires have increased emergency calls by over 50% in some areas. The union reported severe bed shortages, with 43% of surveyed facilities reporting patients spending nights on stretchers, and wait times reaching up to 72 hours. The report also noted deaths occurring while patients waited on stretchers in 26 structures. By October, staffing shortages emerged as a primary threat to service continuity. In Calvi, the local hospital's emergency department faced potential nighttime closures due to a reduction in full-time doctors caused by resignations and sick leave. These structural difficulties in attracting medical professionals have placed essential services at risk. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-14: Healthcare staffing shortages threaten hospitals in France and Canada Hospitals in Calvi, France, and Gatineau, Canada, face critical medical staffing shortages threatening emergency services and operating room availability. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/healthcare-staffing-shortages-threaten-hospitals-in-france-and-canada ### 2026-09-16: French emergency services face critical overcrowding and shortages French emergency services are facing a crisis of overcrowding and bed shortages. The CHU de Nîmes has activated emergency protocols, while a national survey reports wait times exceeding 72 hours. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-emergency-services-face-critical-overcrowding-and-shortages --- Cite as: French healthcare service strain. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-healthcare-service-strain