the ARS closes a health center in Brive for “serious breaches of the quality and safety of care”

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Nouvelle-Aquitaine announced Thursday March 14, in a press release, the closure of the Asclépiade health center in Brive, in Corrèze, for “serious breaches of quality and safety of care”, reports France Bleu Limousin. The establishment was closed on January 22 by decision of the director general of the ARS. According to the ARS, 1,174 patients were followed at the Asclépiade health center in Brive, as part of dental care or general medicine. All were informed by mail by Health Insurance.

The center will not reopen due to “serious breaches of hygiene rules, noted during inspections carried out on its premises”, by a team made up of inspectors, doctors and pharmacists, on December 11, 2023, specifies the ARS. A first immediate and total suspension of activity at the Asclépiade center was implemented on December 28. The establishment had 15 days to remedy the shortcomings noted. A counter-visit by the inspection team took place on January 15, 2024 and “confirmed that the risk of infection was still significant and that patient safety was no longer guaranteed”explains the ARS.

“The shortcomings observed may have exposed patients to a risk of transmission of hepatitis B viruses (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV”, adds the ARS. The risk of infection remains low, but the ARS suggests that patients, particularly those who have undergone dental treatment, be screened. This concerns around 1,100 patients, according to France Bleu Limousin. They can go to the laboratory after consulting their general practitioner or come to the CEGIDD-CLAT in Brive or Tulle. The ARS will finance the remainder for patients who do not have mutual insurance.