The Foyer Saint-François in Namur faces scrutiny over its internal “30-day rule” for palliative care patients, a policy that has led to tensions between families and the facility’s administration. While the institution maintains that the regulation is a flexible management tool necessitated by limited resources and high demand, patients and medical professionals have raised concerns regarding the emotional impact of forced transfers during the final stages of life.
What is the “30-day rule”?
The Foyer Saint-François employs an internal regulation that suggests palliative care stays should not exceed 30 days, according to the facility’s director, Sophie Leruth. This policy is distinct from “respite” stays, which are capped at three weeks. The institution reports that while the rule is standard knowledge for staff and volunteers, it is not a legal requirement, despite some patients being informed otherwise by staff. Director Sophie Leruth confirmed that the facility experienced a “form of clumsiness” when communicating this policy to families.
The Foyer Saint-François operates with 10 accredited palliative care beds. In 2025, the facility admitted 219 patients but was forced to turn away 133 others due to capacity constraints.
Why does this policy create conflict?
Tensions arise when the medical reality of a patient’s condition clashes with the facility’s logistical constraints. Dr. Eric Lambert, a general practitioner, describes the pressure to transfer patients as “inhumane,” noting that the progression of an illness is impossible to predict with precision. Sébastien, whose wife was admitted to the unit, reported being told by a coordinator that a transfer was legally required. He later expressed feelings of pressure after an external social worker contacted him about a nursing home placement he had not requested, an act he characterized as an “abuse of power.”
The friction at the Foyer Saint-François illustrates a broader systemic challenge in healthcare: the mismatch between clinical needs and administrative “medico-economic” constraints. Institutions must balance the individual’s right to a stable end-of-life environment against the necessity of managing a finite number of specialized beds for a high volume of applicants.
How are exceptions managed?
According to Sophie Leruth, the 30-day limit is not strictly applied. The administration utilizes an interdisciplinary consultation process to assess whether a patient can remain beyond the threshold. Statistics provided by the facility show that approximately one in ten patients stays longer than 30 days, with some cases extending to three months or more when physicians determine that a transfer poses too high a risk to the patient. The average length of stay in the unit remains 17 days.
What may happen next?
The Foyer Saint-François, alongside other entities in the sector, is advocating for an increase in available palliative care beds and the establishment of units specifically designed for medium-term stays. Given the current focus on healthcare budget cuts, it is uncertain whether funding for such an expansion will be prioritized. In the meantime, the facility is likely to continue relying on internal reviews to determine patient transfers, a process that remains a point of contention for families and local physicians who fear similar outcomes for their patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 30-day rule a law?
No. The Foyer Saint-François clarifies that it is an internal regulation rather than a legal requirement.
Are all patients transferred after 30 days?
No. The facility states the rule is flexible, and approximately 10% of patients stay beyond the 30-day mark based on clinical assessment.
What happens to patients who are not transferred?
In 2025, eight out of ten patients passed away within the Foyer Saint-François, while two out of ten were discharged to their homes or transferred to nursing homes.
Do you believe administrative regulations should ever supersede the continuity of care for patients in their final days?