Recommendations of 18th June 200910 concerning the Esquirol hospital in Limoges Four controllers duly authorised by the Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté (CGLPL) visited the Esquirol hospital in Limoges (Haute-Vienne) from 9th to 11th December 2008. The observations made during this visit gave rise to an initial report which was sent to the director of the establishment on 19th December 2008. The director submitted his comments on this report in a letter dated 6th January 2009. On 10th  February 2009, the full report of the visit was sent to the Minister for Health and Sports. The Minister submitted his remarks, which have been added to the report as an appendix, in a letter dated 6th April 2009. In the wake of this procedure, and in accordance with the law n°20071545 of 30th October 2007, the Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté has decided to make public the following recommendations: 1/ Although information on patients admitted to hospital without their consent is supplied quickly and consistently throughout the entire establishment, the exercise of rights of appeal for patients is, however, not sufficiently guaranteed: the explanations given are provided exclusively by nursing staff in little accessible legal terms. A model national document targeting a non-specialised public should be developed, notably in cooperation with user associations. 2/ The right to privacy is not respected when letters sent by patients are subject to monitoring, even if the envelopes are not opened. The right to correspondence of patients hospitalised without their consent cannot be contested, including for measures to address health care and safety objectives. 3/ The hospitalisation of persons without their consent is not carried 10 Published in the Journal Officiel de la République française n°0151 of 2nd July 2009, text n°59. 23