The Minister Delegate for the Autonomy of the Elderly, Brigitte Bourguignon, summoned the CEO of Orpea, Jean-Christophe Romersi, on February 1 to "
respond
" to the "
serious accusations
" concerning the group's practices in its nursing homes, denounced in a book that caused shock waves.
Read alsoBefore the Orpea scandal, a long litany of abuse in nursing homes
"
I would like to hear you during an interview at my ministry on Tuesday February 1 at 9:15 a.m.
", at the request of the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, said Brigitte Bourguignon in a letter in a severe tone, addressed Thursday to Jean-Christophe Romersi .
This interview “
will be an opportunity to hear the explanations of the Orpéa group on several points which will be the subject of in-depth investigations by the State services
”, she specifies in this letter.
Clarifications expected on the supervision rate
The Minister wishes to have details on "
the allocation to establishments of consumables such as sanitary protection or on issues related to the nutrition of residents
", "
the group's managerial practices concerning staff, the rate of supervision
", "
the procedures for reporting and following up on acts of mistreatment reported by relatives of residents
” as well as “
the group’s financial practices
”. An investigation by the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas) “
on all or part of the establishments in your group
” may be carried out following this interview, specifies Ms. Bourguignon.
In the investigative book "
Les Fossoyeurs
", the independent journalist Victor Castanet describes a system where hygiene care, medical care, and even residents' meals are "
rationed
" to improve Orpea's profitability.
And this while stays are charged at full price.
Orpea disputes the accusations, which it describes as "
false, outrageous and prejudicial
".
“
The government cannot tolerate such facts if they are proven
,” writes Brigitte Bourguignon in her letter.
Read alsoAbuse in nursing homes: the controls in question
The publication of the book plunged the title Orpea, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, and aroused many indignant reactions from union and political leaders.
