“With great astonishment” : here is how the Antoine Lacassagne Center and the Lenval Foundation became aware of the XXL hospital project announced in Nice-Matin by the mayor of Nice, also president of the CHU supervisory board, Christian Estrosi. By 2031, their establishments should be grouped with that of the Cimiez hospital in a single location west of Nice. “The principle of such a grouping on the same site has indeed already been mentioned, with the Regional Health Agency and local authorities, but this project has not yet given rise to preparatory work and reflection around a common program”, react in a joint press release the cancer center and the pediatric hospital.
The timetable given and the affirmative tone surprise them. Especially since for this project, “its financing remains very uncertain to date”, they maintain, mentioning between the lines the work costing more than 500 million euros.
Should we see this as interference in the governance of the targeted establishments? “Any decision concerning the location of their activities, their future and their scope, as well as the necessary investments are made by an independent board of directors and general management, under the supervision of the Regional Health Agency and ultimately the ministry of Health.” The points are dotted: there are numerous steps before such a project can see the light of day. And it’s not just one man’s decision.”
“Prior reflections can only be considered within the framework of consultation, coordination, respect for the identity and autonomy of each person”write the Antoine Lacassagne Center and the Lenval Foundation, not forgetting “health actors and local communities”. Finally, the establishments remind us in passing that a regional health project has just been validated “for the next five years.” Implying that this framework, too, must be respected.
In short, we are far from the realization of a pharaonic health center.
