Open war between the Nice University Hospital and the Lenval Foundation: we explain why

Is there a bitter feud between the Nice University Hospital and the Lenval Foundation? Yes. And that's an understatement. War has been declared between the two healthcare institutions, who are exchanging press releases, with, in the midst of it all, pitched battles between the unions, scuds fired from both sides, and squabbles over figures. To understand this, keep in mind that these two entities, one public, the other private and non-profit, came together in 2013 by signing a partnership at the initiative of the ARS Paca (Regional Health Agency for the Paca region) to pool pediatric services. Except that the wheels aren't so well-oiled.

A look back at recent events. Over the past five weeks, four rallies have been organized in front of the Lenval Foundation, the last of which was on June 3, under the banners of the CGT, FO, and CFE-CGC. Except that the CFDT is annoyed because it does not share their position, especially since it is the majority within the establishment. Its secretary, Pierre-Yves Navarre, "denounces the attempts to exploit the ongoing changes in the organization of work at Lenval" in a press release published on June 5. "These actions are detrimental to all employees and weaken the institution. The proliferation of unfounded accusations aims at only one thing: to destabilize the Lenval Foundation, its employees, and its model, and to encourage an attempted takeover of the CHU for its unique resources in the region. (...) The CFDT Lenval rejects ideological posturing and character assassinations."

50 to 100 strikers out of 1,500 Lenval employees

A few hours later, the management of the children's hospital took up their pens and, over eight pages, denounced the Nice University Hospital and its CME (Medical Establishment Commission) president, Jacques Levraut, who had launched an attack in the form of a press release on June 2.

The latter writes "wishes to publicly alert us to the seriously worrying situation within the Lenval pediatric establishment in Nice, marked by psychosocial risks deeply affecting medical, nursing and administrative professionals and compromising the quality, safety and continuity of care provided to children." He mentions, among other things, "deleterious climate", "managerial brutality" and "disinformation" . He argues: "The presidency of the CME of the Foundation was excluded from decisions; the governance of the Foundation displayed a desire to subordinate the medical profession; practitioners linked to the CHU were accused of disloyalty, even treason; an internal campaign aimed to discredit their actions." He also recalls that "more than 500 non-medical professionals have signed a petition warning of psychosocial risks" and that "89 doctors have contacted the public prosecutor under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure" , also adding that "two (sic) massive strike movements have each mobilized more than 100 caregivers" .

And the Lenval Foundation retaliates, starting with the figures: "the recent strike movements have only brought together a maximum of fifty people (out of 1,500 employees!), the majority of whom are CHU staff from outside the Foundation." Because it must be understood that among the Lenval staff are "staff under the status of the hospital public service made available by the CHU of Nice, representing less than 8% of the workforce (including 69 doctors out of 161). They benefit from the job guarantee linked to their status," indicates the Foundation, which continues: "They are the main supporters and promoters of the ongoing takeover attempt which directly threatens at least 150 jobs in administrative, technical and logistical support functions within the Foundation and constitutes a source of worry and stress at work for all its employees."

"An initial cooperation betrayed"

She castigates the public hospital, describing "initial cooperation betrayed." And argues: "In 2013, (...) an innovative partnership between Lenval and the Nice University Hospital was established: the Foundation was to accommodate all pediatrics, including university pediatrics. Lenval kept all its commitments - even selling its Santa Maria maternity unit for a symbolic euro to allow the arrival of the CHU's unit. The CHU never transferred its maternity unit, nor the two pediatric units that remained at Archet. In 2017, the CHU abandoned plans to build the €54 million hospital building provided for in the agreement, due to its difficult financial situation. Since then, no viable joint project has been pursued. Worse: in 2024, the CHU unilaterally submitted a plan to transfer all pediatrics to Archet, for an amount of €65 million, in clear violation of the terms of the 2013 partnership. It is false to claim that this merger project would be abandoned and would no longer be justified; it must be adapted. In the interest of securing the care pathway and in the interest of the children, the Lenval Foundation requests that the two services remaining at Archet be integrated into the Lenval hospital as planned."

The establishment on Avenue de la Californie is firing on all cylinders, speaking of "a strategy of circumvention and pressure from the Nice University Hospital to avoid assuming its responsibilities. (...) [It] is at the origin of the deleterious climate that it claims to denounce." It should be noted that last January, a crisis shook the management of the CH U, which was criticized for its management and administration by former directors and heads of establishments of the GHT (Territorial Hospital Group).

And to conclude by mentioning his projects: "Rather than moving the Maralpine pediatrics to the Archet site, which is totally unsuitable, by an operator who currently only provides 3% of the healthcare provision [in the department compared to "52% for Lenval"], the Lenval Foundation is carrying out [for the years 2026-2030] a structuring and immediately achievable project: the Integrated Child Health Center, on its historic site, Avenue de la Californie."

When contacted, the two establishments declined to comment, referring to press releases.