the essential
On November 8, a patient from the psychiatric department of Toulouse University Hospital was found dead, two days after running away from the free and post-crisis care unit (ULPC). This unit was set up after several recent incidents.
On the night of November 6 to 7, 2024, a patient in distress left the scene without warning anyone. Despite immediate searches and the intervention of law enforcement, the Toulouse University Hospital learned of his death two days later.
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Admitted to the Purpan psychiatric emergency room on November 5, this patient was hospitalized the next day at the ULPC, a unit opened last March and designed to stabilize crises while respecting the freedom of movement of patients. He had to be transferred to another health facility. “On November 6, 8 patients were hospitalized at the ULPC. The nursing staff was in full force. This unit, in accordance with the principle of self-care hospitalization, is not intended to be closed except in exceptional cases in attempted intrusion”, indicates the hospital management, adding that “the entire hospital community expresses its support to the family and loved ones of this patient and remains at their disposal for any additional information”.
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“Since then, tragedies have followed one another…”
For the CGT of the CHU, which recalls that last February several tragedies struck the health establishment, once again, the psychiatric services were in a situation of critical overload. “We were told that everything would get better. But patients find themselves in unsuitable departments, and this has unfortunately contributed to this new suicide. It is unacceptable that colleagues are targeted as responsible when they have been denouncing their actions for years. working conditions and the conditions of reception of patients”, denounces the union.
He underlines that the ARS Occitanie and the management of the Toulouse University Hospital had refused an emergency plan for public psychiatry of 15 million euros in 2019 with the creation of a ninth public sector. “Since then, tragedies have followed one another: attacks, rapes, suicides…”, criticizes the CGT CHU.
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The management of the health establishment announces that the capacity of the ULPC will reach, in the coming months, 15 beds “depending on future recruitment”. An insufficient measure for the union, which requires additional resources and massive recruitment.
