“We are not going to be done”: how ORPEA leaders organized internally counter-attack

In a written article for “Le Monde”, the Victor Castanet journalist, at the origin of the revelations on abuse in the ORPEA group with his book “The graves” (Fayard), unveils the strategy defense of management, very virulent when it comes to evoking the critics of which it is the object.

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Thursday, March 17, in the heart of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), about twenty directors of accommodation for elderly dependent (EHPAD) are nervously awaiting in an area of ​​an orpea residence, The arrival of Stéphane Cohen. After e-mails, news releases and videoconferences, the Group’s director of France’s French-social operations begins a national tour of his 226 directors to demine the ground. The time is serious: the final report of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) and the General Finance Inspectorate (IGF) on this group involved in recent weeks for its management of the elderly institutions is about to be given to the government. Its content is still confidential, but the executives of ORPEA have had access to a prerequisite in order to present their “defense”. All indicates that the points raised are explosive, and the risk of significant internal hemorrhage. Hence Mr. Cohen’s intervention.

At around 10 o’clock, this dynamic fiftienarian enters the track. He knows how to capture his audience and is fighting. Over his remarks, who Le Monde has been able to read, he will repeat several times: “We’re not going to be done!” And “We’ll have to stop whipping, there, to undergo!”

Before evoking the content of the report, Mr. Cohen does not hesitate to criticize the institutions: the Government, the National Assembly Commission on Social Affairs, Regional Health Agencies (ARS), the IGF , Igas. All guilty, in his eyes, to lack impartiality. He and his superior, the General Manager France of Orpea, Jean-Christophe Romersi, have noted in particular a very bad memory of their hearing at the National Assembly. “We have been scarper, but we could not do anything, let Mr. Cohen. We are in a game both political and theatrical. We answered but no one listened to us. Everyone is in his role. The members of the Republic in March belong to a government that has done nothing for the sector. They have an expiatory victim and say that you have to load it. “

” This report, it will leave traces “

As regards the controls carried out by the ARS, Mr. Cohen reveals to his collaborators that twelve residences would have received injunctions – sanctions pronounced as a result of dysfunctions that could endanger the lives of residents – and announces that closures are expected. But, to hear it, these measures would not be justified and explained by the ambitions of some directors of ARS: “There are regions where we feel that it goes wrong. In the DG [General Managers] of Ars, there are some who dream of rising to the ministry. There are elections soon. Mandates will be redistributed. And clearly, there is a region where we have a superfayot. This DG says: “I’m going to make me Orpea to be seen. “” ”

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/Media reports.