Section 2: Provisions specific to public health establishments

Admission to hospital is decided by the Director on the advice of a doctor or intern in the establishment. Except in emergencies recognised by the establishment’s doctor or intern on duty, it is decided upon on presentation of a certificate from a doctor in attendance or belonging to the establishment’s consultation service attesting to the need for hospital treatment. This certificate may indicate the discipline to which the person concerned…

In the event of refusal to admit a patient who fulfils the conditions required for admission, even though there are enough beds available in the establishment to accommodate the patient, admission may be ordered by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency.

If the condition of a sick or injured person requires urgent care, the Director shall take all measures to ensure that such urgent care is provided. He shall decide on admission, even in the absence of any civil status documents and any information on the conditions under which the cost of the stay will be reimbursed to the establishment.

When a doctor or an intern in the establishment notes that the condition of a patient or an injured person requires urgent care involving a discipline or technique not practised in the establishment or requiring resources which the establishment does not have, or when the patient’s admission presents a definite risk to the operation of the hospital service due to lack of space, the Director shall provide first aid and…

All necessary measures are taken to ensure that the families of sick or injured people hospitalised in an emergency are informed.

Any patient or injured person who is admitted as an emergency and who refuses to remain in the establishment will sign a certificate expressly stating this refusal; failing this, a record of the refusal will be drawn up.

In disciplines with several departments, patients are free to choose the department to which they wish to be admitted, except in emergencies and taking into account the number of beds available.

Establishments may have either a single hospitalisation regime, which constitutes the common regime, or two hospitalisation regimes, the common regime and the special regime which includes single rooms. The common regime must be applied to beneficiaries of state medical aid and to beneficiaries of care provided under Article L. 254-1 of the Code de l’action sociale et des familles.

When a patient’s condition requires them to be isolated in a single room, they are admitted as soon as possible, while remaining under the general regime.