Abuse of Patients in Nursing Homes

17 February 2012

Question No. 263

Name of person: Ms Ellen Lee

Question

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether there have been complaints of abuse

of patients in nursing homes since June 2011; and (b) what measures have been

put in place to prevent potential abuses and address any abuses discovered.

Answer

1 The Ministry of Health (MOH) currently licenses a total of 65 nursing

homes, providing residential care for about 9,000 patients. A total of nine

complaints of alleged abuse in nursing homes were received since 1 June 2011.

These complaints of abuse mainly alleged rough handling of elderly patients,

particularly when the patients were being moved by nursing home staff. We

have since advised the nursing homes concerned to pay more and regular

attention to staff training and compliance with protocols on the handling and

management of patients. We are monitoring these homes to ensure compliance

with MOH’s recommendations.

2 My Ministry takes the care provided to elderly patients in nursing homes

very seriously. Should investigations reveal that staff had hurt patients due to

rash acts or negligence, we will not hesitate to suspend or revoke the licence of

the nursing home concerned. Serious cases may also be referred to the Police

for investigations. For example, Nightingale Nursing Home has been referred to

the Police and investigations are still in progress.

3 Nursing homes are issued two-yearly licences by the Ministry. They are

inspected prior to the issuance or renewal of their licences, and on a yearly basis

thereafter to ensure that all facilities and care staff comply with the Private

Hospitals and Medical Clinics (PHMC) Act and Regulations, as well as the

Specific Guidelines for Nursing Homes. Inspections for renewal will be more

comprehensive. All nursing homes are expected to comply with these licensing

terms and conditions, failing which regulatory actions may be taken against

them, including suspension or revocation of their licences for serious lapses.

4 Going forward, my Ministry is putting in place a Visitors Programme for

nursing homes. The programme seeks to improve standards of care, promote

patients’ well-being and serves as an additional safeguard against possible abuse

or lapse of care. Volunteers recruited from a diverse range of backgrounds from

the community will visit the homes. They will speak with the patients and their

family members about the care provided by the home and to observe the general

environment. Each team of visitors will comprise both healthcare professionals

and lay persons. After the visit, the visitors will provide a report on their

findings to the Ministry with a copy given to the nursing home. This

programme, however, does not replace the formal inspections currently

conducted by MOH, which will continue. We plan to roll out the programme in

April this year.