Strengthening the role of users at the heart of the healthcare system

On April 17, healthcare institutions in Var mobilized to raise public awareness about an essential theme: the rights of healthcare system users. On this occasion, the Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Toulon – La Seyne-sur-Mer and the Centre Hospitalier d’Hyères organized a Users' Rights Day. The event took place simultaneously in the reception halls of three hospital sites: l’hôpital Sainte-Musse in Toulon, l’hôpital George Sand in La Seyne-sur-Mer, and l’hôpital Marie- Josée Treffot in Hyères. Patients, relatives, healthcare professionals, and ordinary citizens were thus able to find information and discuss their healthcare rights. Conceived as a space for dialogue and education, this day brought together numerous actors involved in supporting users (user representatives, legal department, quality teams, therapeutic patient education professionals) as well as several partner associations. Professionals answered questions, clarified procedures, and helped people better understand the rights of each patient within their care pathway. Beyond providing information, the initiative aimed to strengthen the role of users at the heart of the healthcare system. By encouraging everyone to take ownership of their rights, the organizers wished to promote a more balanced relationship between patients and professionals, based on listening, transparency, and active participation. This Users' Rights Day was also an opportunity to highlight innovative initiatives and promote good practices developed on the ground. A concrete way to recall that access to information and understanding of rights are essential levers for improving the quality of care and the patient experience.