Hundreds of nurses and anaesthetists in blue gowns and surgical masks took the streets in Paris and ran towards the Elysee palace on Friday, blocking the traffic near the Champs-Elysees. The unexpected protest surprised the few riot police deployed in the area and reinforcements were seen arriving at the scene. The nurses and anaesthetists started their protest movement a few months ago, pressing claims for a greater recognition of their work. The nurses complain their salaries do not reflect the specialized training they carried out to be anaesthetist support staff.