"I don't treat with a stopwatch": Lenval Hospital staff demonstrate for the fourth time in five weeks in Nice

"I don't treat with a stopwatch." Sanae Zaoui, a psychomotor therapist in child psychiatry, joined the rally in front of Lenval Hospital on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The fourth since April 29. With the same demands and an urgent request: "Reopen dialogue with management."

"She hasn't responded to the letter we sent her," laments Séverine Huyche, a medical secretary with a CGT union. "We denounce authoritarian management, mistreatment, psychosocial risks, pressure, and even the annualization of working hours, which isn't working... Colleagues are suffering, across all categories."

Administrative staff, healthcare workers... The gathering, between noon and 2 p.m., brought together staff from different departments, despite their inherent differences.

"A risk for patients"

"Everyone is affected," continues Michel Fuentes, general secretary of the FO CHU de Nice. "We are seeing difficulties everywhere."

Dr. Sébastien Barthélémy, head of the intensive care unit and CFE-CGC union representative, confirms: "The management practiced by management is unacceptable and poses a real risk to patient care. 89 doctors and one occupational physician have reported the matter to the public prosecutor under Article 40 [of the Code of Criminal Procedure]."

The latter confirms that a preliminary investigation has been opened concerning facts of moral harassment.

"Management is pressuring employees to prevent them from joining unions or mobilizing," note Séverine Huyche and Sanae Zaoui (CGT). "We can't even send group emails to more than 50 people anymore."

Dr. Barthélémy has also noticed this and is concerned: "It's serious because we need to be able to communicate medical information to several people. Here again, it's patient safety that's at stake."

When contacted, management declined to comment.