Socialist MP Isabelle Santiago denounces “disgusting” practices and calls for “securing” healthcare professions

After the Orpéa scandal, investigative journalist Victor Castanet denounces abuses in certain private daycare centers in a new book, “Les Ogres” published by Flammarion. Rapporteur of a flash mission on the “failures of child protection policies”, Isabelle Santiago wonders “who had an interest” in postponing the planned investigation.

“20 years ago, in 2004, we opened [les crèches] to the private sector and we have today’s situation”a situation “scandalous”deplores Tuesday September 17 on franceinfo Isabelle Santiago, socialist deputy of Val-de-Marne, rapporteur of the flash mission on the “failures in child protection policies”following the revelations in the book by journalist Victor Castanet, The Ogreswhich comes out Wednesday. The author of Gravediggersan investigation which in 2022 revealed cases of embezzlement and mistreatment at the private nursing home giant Orpea, this time reveals the “voracity” from certain private nursery groups, including the People & Baby group.

“The ogre still gorged himself on the beast, public money,” believes Isabelle Santiago, for whom “the whole subject raises the problem of the relationship between the private sector and non-profit goals.” According to the socialist MP, this “brings low-cost to early childhood” with low cost management and practices “to vomit”as “reduce the number of meals in a nursery”Or “the quality and number of diapers to change for children”, “while the priority must obviously be on childhood”.

Isabelle Santiago calls for “secure” all subjects related to care, and in particular care “of the most vulnerable people”. “All care professions must be an absolute priority”she insists, pointing out the recruitment failures which particularly affect public establishments. According to her, not only “There is a shortage of recruitment of early childhood staff” but also a need to better train staff. “We need people who are competent in the basic needs of a child to grow up well”she continues, believing that a “CAP which is done online with very few internships” and immediate responsibility in a nursery, “It’s unthinkable.”

Asked about the inaction of public authorities, Isabelle Santiago denounces the absence of a real policy on children in seven years of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency. While Victor Castanet evokes a “non-aggression pact” concluded between the former Minister of Families Aurore Bergé and the private nursery lobby, Isabelle Santiago questions the task entrusted to her of carrying out a ‘flash mission’ and not a commission of inquiry. “The commission of inquiry had been postponed. They didn’t want it. I would like to know who, in fact, could have an interest in this commission of inquiry not starting immediately when it should have,” concludes the socialist, demanding answers from the authorities.