The Group is accused of setting up a system where hygiene care, medical care, or even meals, are “rationed” to improve profitability.
Le Monde with AFP
While the actors of the sector, trade union organizations and political parties unanimously condemn the facts denounced in a book published on Wednesday on the Practices of Orpéa, its Director General, Jean-Christophe Romersi, was convened to an interview with Brigitte Bourguignon , the Minister responsible for autonomy, Tuesday, February 1, learned Le Monde Thursday, January 27th.
This interview “will be an opportunity to hear the explanations of the group ordew on several points that will be the subject of in-depth investigations by the state services,” explains M me Bourguignon In his letter addressed to Mr. Rimesi.
In particular, the Minister wishes to know more about “attribution to consumables such as hygienic protections or issues related to the nutrition of residents”, “the Group’s managerial practices concerning staff”, “the modalities of reporting and monitoring of the facts of abuse reported by the relatives of the residents “and” the financial practices of the group “.
An investigation of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) “on all or part of the institutions of your group” may be diligent as a result of this interview, continues the delegated minister.
L ‘One of the leaders in the sector
Private clinics specialist and retirement homes, the French group Orpea is present in 23 countries with a total of 1,156 sites. In France, he manages a network of 354 establishments, who take care of fragile and loss of autonomy. He has been at the heart of a media storm since the release at the beginning of the week of the book-Survey the graves, Victor Castanet.
The reporter describes a system where hygiene care, medical care, or even meals of residents are “rationed” to improve the profitability of the private EHPAD group. And this, while the stays are charged at the high price – several thousand euros per month.
Orpéa challenges these accusations, which he describes as “misleading, outrageous and detriment”. The group announced, Wednesday night, have mandated “two leading firms to conduct an independent evaluation to shed light on all serious allegations” The aim.
General indignation
“If the facts denounced are proven, some of them are unacceptable and likely to be sentenced”, written in a statement the Association of Directors serving the elderly (ADAP).
For Laurent Berger, Secretary General of the CFDT, “if the situation is described in the book, it is a pure scandal”. The Federal Private Health Union CGT denounces “for years the working conditions and care of residents in these institutions”, “without anything change”.
Socialist MPs want to audition the boss of Orpéa and create a commission of inquiry, announced the member Boris Vallaud in a tweet