Last Monday, Stéphanie Bataille launched a cry from the heart in the French media.
The actress, who lost her father Étienne Draber to Covid-19 at the beginning of January, explained in
Le Figaro Vox that
she had been deprived of the right to go to her bedside, and even to attend her setting in beer.
To read also: Stéphanie Bataille: "I did not have the right to see my father again, while he called out loudly for me"
“
We could not see my father again, while he called out loudly for us.
Ten days locked in a room, what does this punishment mean?
Why can healthcare staff go to the bedside, but not relatives?
She asked herself.
Can't we really visit our hospitalized loved ones?
The AP-HP defends itself
In her text, Stéphanie Bataille accuses Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris of "
adding to the suffering of patients a deprivation of human contact which, for some of them, can prove to be fatal
".
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Contacted by
Le Figaro
, the AP-HP confirms that it prohibits all visits for patients with Covid-19.
But the organization wishes to defend itself: “
It's been months since we implemented an exceptions policy, clearly displayed on our site, to allow visits when the patient is at the end of life or if he is in prey to major psychological difficulties
”.
During a press conference given on Tuesday, January 26, Martin Hirsch, boss of the AP-HP, said: "
The idea that the family did not have access (
to the sick room)
is not true.
""
Every day we would go to the hospital hoping the door would open.
Stéphanie Bataille admitted on CNews that her family, member by member, were finally able to visit her father, shortly before his death.
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In a document sent to
Le Figaro
, the AP-HP in any case subjects all visits to a high number of restrictions: visits to only one person per patient and per day are allowed, minors are not allowed. are not authorized, and, finally, it "
could be put an immediate end to any visit during which visitors do not respect the barrier gestures
".
Throughout France, visits almost prohibited
AP-HP is not the only one to severely restrict hospital visits, from patients with Covid or not.
In the University Hospitals of Marseille, "
visits to patients are temporarily prohibited
", we are told.
“
These measures are necessary in order not to create chain contamination.
A few exceptions are provided, upon medical authorization, under the same conditions as the AP-HP.
In pediatrics and neonatology, visits are authorized for parents.
In the maternity ward, visits are authorized to spouses.
"
Psychological follow-up is offered to bereaved families who have lost a loved one from Covid-19
", also specifies the AP-HM, the third largest hospital group in France.
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Within the Strasbourg University Hospital, “
our basic rule is not to have visits
” for Covid patients or not, we explain to
Figaro
.
“
This is what is posted on
our site
.
But, in fact, one visit per day and per patient is authorized in all our intensive care units.
We cannot accommodate 20 people in a room.
So when the person is conscious, it can be done by videoconference.
»«
To my knowledge,
says our interlocutor,
no one has died here without anyone having seen him.
»Each visit is accompanied by strict barrier gestures.
“
We do not cover the patient,
ironically the CHU
, but we impose a gown and overcoat to enter the room.
"And to affirm:"
the measures do not matter.
What always prevails is the dialogue with the doctor.
And I don't know of a caregiver who would refuse a visit when the situation calls for it.
The Grenoble University Hospital applies the same type of restrictions, with one visitor per day (masked and not sick) and per patient.
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For its part, the Reims hospital center tells us that "
visits are only authorized by medical decision only
".
Within the Covid units, "
no exemption is issued, except for end-of-life situations
".
In the Civil Hospices of Lyon, as at the Avignon hospital center, visits are prohibited, but exceptional authorization may be granted “
when this is necessary to make decisions concerning the patient's journey.
"
In short, it is extremely complicated to visit relatives hospitalized in France. The possible authorizations, within Covid units or not, are only issued by medical decision, when the patient is in particular at the end of life. But the number of restrictions imposed (one visit per day, barrier gestures, outfits ...) prevents a goodbye in due form. Stéphanie Bataille, in her gallery, does not budge: "
I ask, on behalf of all, that families can visit their loved ones whatever the cause of their hospitalization
".