France

Health systems in transition France 103
4.1.2 Infrastructure
In 2011, France had an average of 6.3 full-time hospital beds and 1 part-time
hospital bed 1 (referred to as places) per 1000 inhabitants, with more than half
the beds and 42% of the places dedicated to acute care (Table 4.1). In addition,
0.02 places per 1000 inhabitants were available for home hospitalization
services, 97.6% of which were dedicated to acute care.
Table 4.1
Mix of beds in acute hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and long-term care hospitals
in France, per 1000 population, 1990–2011, selected years
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011
Total number of hospital beds 9.8 8.9 8.2 7.4 6.6 6.4
Acute care beds 5.2 4.6 4.2 3.8 3.5 3.4
Psychiatric hospital beds 1.7 1.3 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.9
Long-term care beds 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.2 0.6 0.5
Rehabilitation hospital beds 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6
Source: Eco-Santé, 2014.
Consistent with the general trend among European countries, the total
number of hospital beds in France has declined since 1990. Between 2003 and
2011, the number of full-time hospital beds fell from 468 000 to 414 000. The
number of acute care beds has been steadily declining since the late 1980s
(Fig. 4.1a). Average length of stay in acute hospitals also has diminished, being
lower than in comparable European countries, with an average length of stay of
five days in 2011 (Fig. 4.1b). Bed occupancy rates have remained fairly stable
(Fig. 4.1c).
1
Part-time hospital beds encompass beds for outpatient procedures and ambulatory care, including day or night care,
provided in the mental health sector.