The La Pitié-Salpêtrière intensive care unit in April 2020 (illustration). – ERIC DESSONS / JDD / SIPA
- While Emmanuel Macron requested a new effort from caregivers in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, a rumor affirms that the self-service of the healthcare staff at Pitié-Salpêtrière, in Paris, will be transformed into a resuscitation room.
- Several photos of the work have been relayed in recent days on social networks.
- 20 minutes was able to confirm their authenticity as the objective of this work.
“Let’s not forget that for a year they have been on the bridge relentlessly. “If Emmanuel Macron’s speech on March 31 was an opportunity for the Head of State to salute the” remarkable action “of caregivers facing Covid-19 for more than a year, he also took the opportunity to ask them for “an effort” to “increase our resuscitation capacities”.
A request particularly badly received by those concerned, who were not however at the end of their surprises, according to a rumor relayed since by multiple Internet users on social networks.
“ My buddy who works […] at the Salpêtrière just told me that they transformed the self into a sheave room… Apparently they had not done so during the very first confinement. We love… ”, was alarmed from April 1st.
Internet user, along with the photos of the work relayed as an Instagram story by the “whatsup.dr” account.
On the morning of April 2, the USAP-CGT union retweeted other images, indicating: “Transformation of the Salpêtrière self-service into a place which will be able to accommodate 40 intensive care beds … Martin Hirsch, Hôtel-Dieu is available for open beds! We walk on the head to the AP-HP !!! “
Transformation of the self of the saltpetre into a place that will accommodate 40 resuscitation beds. @MartinHirsch the hotel-god is available to open beds! .. we walk on head to toe#aphp !!! @APHP #martinhirsch pic.twitter.com/jkRWiiBkQq
– USAP-CGT (@UsapCGT) April 2, 2021
FAKE OFF
Work is well underway in the Pitié-Salpêtrière self-service, usually reserved for staff, as confirmed by several witnesses at 20 minutes. “We were talking about it yesterday at work, colleagues saw the work when they arrived, which confirmed the rumors that had been running for a few days. I walked past the self-service on the way back to see what was going on, ”says Clémentine *, a member of the hospital staff, who took several photos of the site.
“I had not received any information internally – which does not exclude a communication made for the staff which would not have reached me because the information sometimes has difficulty in passing”, she continues. This is confirmed by another member of the staff of Pitié-Salpêtrière, who also prefers to remain anonymous: “The work began yesterday. [le 1er avril] to have a building ready to accommodate serious patients if the need arises, that’s what we’ve been told. At the present time, on the other hand, we cannot say that there are 40 beds that open. But there is work to be done so that the materials can be put in place up to 40 beds, if necessary in the future. “
A site announced by email to the staff
Contacted by 20 minutes, the AP-HP tells us that “it is premature to provide information at this stage” on this subject. The various witnesses interviewed also tell us that no sign or message within the self-service indicates the nature of the arrangements in progress. Following on from an email received by hospital staff on the morning of April 2, which we were able to consult.
Entitled “Temporary closure of the Salpêtrière self-service”, this message signed by the purchasing, sustainable development and logistics department simply states: “Due to work undertaken in the Salpêtrière self-service, it will no longer be accessible as of today […]. Meal production abilities remain unchanged and the Mercy Self continues to function normally. Two barnums with a total capacity of 150 places, equipped with microwaves and water fountains, have been installed in the park […] to allow diners to eat. “
Asdine Aissiou, secretary general CGT Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, denounces “the removal of the staff dining hall to install this room, which will be more of a transit space for patients from Ile-de-France on oxygen than resuscitation strictly speaking “. “I challenged Martin Hirsch [le directeur de l’AP-HP] to ask him not to eliminate the staff space and to use the Hôtel-Dieu, which is suitable for that. The, [l’AP-HP] will just create ephemeral beds, which will not last, in a staff dining hall, while we are asking for long-term beds, ”he laments.