Île-de-France hospitals face criticism over psychiatric emergency conditions

The General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty has issued an urgent alert regarding “indignity” and “serious malfunctions” within psychiatric emergency services across the Île-de-France region. Following inspections of several hospitals, including Pitié-Salpêtrière, Cochin, Robert-Debré, Necker, and Sainte-Anne, the report highlights severe deficiencies in patient care and the protection of fundamental rights.

Key findings include patients being held on stretchers for days, lying on floors, and facing arbitrary detention or legal-less physical restraint. These issues are attributed to a lack of personnel and resources. The report notes a significant increase in waiting times; in the first half of 2026, nearly 4,000 patients requiring psychiatric orientation experienced prolonged waits in emergency departments, a 31.8% increase compared to 2025. At Sainte-Anne hospital, 60% of patients waited more than 13 hours.