"I totally assume.It was my role as minister.If I had to do it again, I will do it again.It was my mission ".These are the remarks made Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the end of the plenary session of the Hauts-de-France Regional Council by Xavier Bertrand.The President of the Region thus reacted to the accusations brought against him by journalist Victor Castanet in his choc book, "Les Fossoyeurs", on the Business of the Great Age.

Xavier Bertrand had to react.In Vincent Castanet's survey, he does not play the beautiful role.He appears to be the former Minister of Health who favored the expansion of the French private group Orpea, now the world leader in nursing homes and clinics.And Orpea does not appear - to say the least - as a model company.

Serious dysfunctions

Testimonials and documents in support, "the gravediggers" opens the doors to a retirement home Orpea in Neuilly-sur-Seine.Great luxury and well-being on the garden side.Mouroir side courtyard.The story of a woman detailing the many negligence that led to her mother's death in a few weeks is terrifying.At Orpea, "establishments must bring money, a lot of money".So we save.We ration.On the number of layers for residents.On daily toilet and hygiene.On the quality of meals.On equipment.On staff - in sub -efficient - pressed as a lemon.No night nurse.We respond late to the calls of the patients.Medicines are poorly distributed.The smells are foul.Flights are reported.For Vincent Castanet, "These dysfunctions are reflecting the overall strategy of the group's staff, anxious to make its establishments make better, to limit the costs".A system.Old age and dependence transformed into a lucrative vein.

"I will do it again"

And Xavier Bertrand, in all of this, how is it involved?Because he would have helped Orpea to develop during his two passages to the Ministry of Health, between June 2005 and March 2007, then between November 2010 and May 2012.According to the testimonies collected by Victor Castanet, the boss of Orpea had lunch regularly with the minister and could "ring him" at any time to support funding or an EHPAD establishment, push a file, lift a blockage.And during his investigation, the journalist notes that the Orpea group began to really take off by obtaining, in the early 90s, the management of seven nursing homes in the Aisne.The department of Xavier Bertrand.

Attacked, the president of Hauts-de-France is therefore explained, especially since a regional opposition councilor, Benjamin Lucas, had just challenged him on Twitter on this case."Yes, I asked for authorizations for the Orpea group, as for all the groups that had submitted a file," said Xavier Bertrand."It was clearly my role, my mission.I did it for three and a half years (the duration of his two passages to the Ministry of Health-NDLR) in compliance with regulations.And not just how.If I had to do it again, I will do it again.I totally assume ".And he repeats, as if to be well understood: "it was my role as minister".

Xavier Bertrand recalls in passing the context of the time."I was in charge of the Grand Age plan.Between 2005 and 2015, we knew that the number of people over 85 would drop from 1 million 100 to 1 million 900.That it was needed a lot of reception structures.And in twenty years, the number of places in nursing homes has increased from 300,000 to 600,000.And so, it is true that as minister, I had to have a large number of places allocated ".

Solemn response

To Victor Castanet, Xavier Bertrand had already replied that he had no special relationship with the owner of Orpea and that he did not "help"."There is no question of helping anyone, but to ensure that the projects presented are successful".

So much for the bottom.On the form, the president of the Hauts de France seems to be affected by the emergence of his name in this case.Last night, in the hemicycle, the tone was full of emotion.Panting.Before explaining himself, Xavier Bertrand spoke of a "personal fact" and - surprising detail - made sure that the camera that an elected ecologist of opposition pointed to him was well lit.Very "Bertrand" way to mark the solemnity of the moment and to show that he has nothing to hide.

(Reactions in channel after the publication of the book "Les Fossoyeurs".The Ile-de-France Regional Health Agency has been leading an inspection in the EHPAD of Neuilly-sur-Seine which is at the center of Victor Castanet.More broadly, the government plans to launch "an independent inspection mission for the integrity of the Orpéa group".The CEO of Orpea was summoned on February 1 by the Minister responsible for the autonomy of the elderly, ex-deputy of Pas-de-Calais, Brigitte Bourguignon.Finally, on the stock market, the title Orpea is in free fall.