Guest of Sunday in Île-de-France politics, France Insoumise deputy for Seine-Saint-Denis, Éric Coqurel reacted to the Orpea scandal.
It’s an investigative book that caused a scandal, Les Fossoyeurs. Its author, Victor Castanet looked into the management of Orpéa, a private group which manages more than 370 establishments for dependent elderly people in France.
He denounces serious dysfunctions in the care of residents. The lack of staff would lead to poor medical care for the elderly, rationing of hygiene care, and even meals, even though the price of rooms reaches several thousand euros per month.
After these revelations, the ARS of Île-de-France launched a flash investigation. Last Thursday, she carried out an inspection in an EHPAD in Neuilly-sur-Seine belonging to the group Orpea refutes these allegations, but its Managing Director Jean-Christophe Romersiis summoned next Tuesday to explain himself to the Minister Delegate for the Autonomy of the Elderly, Brigitte Bourguignon.
A scandal that does not surprise Éric Coquerel. guest of Sunday in IDF politics, the deputy France Insoumise of Seine-Saint-Denis believes that this news reveals the way in which old age is treated in our country.
“This scandal, which at times can be likened to abuse, is unfortunately common in EHPADs of this group, but not only“, explains the deputy
For Éric Coquerel, as for the ecologist Yannick Jadot, we must stop the development of private structures in the care of dependency and old age.
“It is inconceivable that the issue of old age should be dealt with by companies that make profits on the backs of residents, with poorly paid staff in insufficient numbers. In the book Les fossoyeurs, the author notes that there is one nurse for 33 people in France. In Germany, it is one person per resident.” specifies the elected France Insoumise.
And to conclude “Private structures were allowed to make money. Private EHPADs can receive public aid. Their share has increased considerably. We must stop with these for-profit companies”.
Éric Coquerel calls for massive investment in the public sector. “We must put the package back on the public and develop home help. This involves many more resources than what is done today. We must recruit 10,000 people in nursing homes, 210,000 for home help, which is equivalent to at least 10 billion euros.” he explains
Amounts which for the deputy of Seine-Saint-Denis should only finance public or associative structures.
–