Prolix in the eyes of some deputies, fleeing his responsibilities for others: the former deputy general manager of the Orpea group Jean-Claude Brdenk defended, Tuesday, February 15, the management of the nursing homes of the multinational before the commission of social affairs of the ‘National Assembly.
Depicted in the book-investigation The Gravediggers of journalist Victor Castanet as “the zealous performer” of one “Orpea system”, the person responsible for operating and developing the group of for-profit nursing homes between 1997 and 2020 has responded to what he believes to be “untruths”.
Members of the Social Affairs Committee questioned him about the falsification of contracts or the mistreatment of residents mentioned in the book. Allegations refuted en bloc.
“We were the first to set up an abuse prevention program”said Jean-Claude Brdenk, mentioning the positive results of checks carried out by the health authorities.
Heard earlier in the day by the same commission, Élodie Marchat, deputy director general of the solidarity center of the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council, affirmed that the accounting data available to her community did not make it possible to identify an anomaly.
At the Ehpad “Bords de Seine” in Neuilly-sur-Seine, particularly targeted by Victor Castanet’s accusations, the amount of expenses was “in line with the occupancy rate”she argued.
Jean-Claude Brdenk put into perspective the number of forced departures of facility managers who disagree with Orpea’s cost reduction policy. “I think I was honest, fair and equitable. I put in place all the necessary means” to the proper functioning of the establishments, he affirmed, while acknowledging lip service that he may have been “clumsy”.
The man who left the management of Orpea in December 2020 for the medical group Bastide justified his severance pay of 2.5 million euros gross by presenting them as complying with the practices in force in listed companies.
“I had the impression on many occasions that you were drowning the fish”hit him with the number 2 of LFI, Adrien Quatennens. “Many points remained unresolved”regretted for her part the president of the commission, Fadila Khattabi (LREM), after three hours of hearing.