MOH to revoke licence of LC Nursing Home in Siglap after finding lapses in care and safety

Lapses found include:

Inadequate clinical and nursing care

• Failure to conduct appropriate reviews or monitoring for residents in multiple aspects, including falls, restraint practices and pressure injuries;
• Failure to adhere to wound care protocols; 
• Poor medication management such as presence of poorly maintained medication stock, medication errors, and administration of medication by care staff without suitable credentials.

Failure to provide adequate basic care to residents

• Failure to adhere to food hygiene practices and implement safe food processes with regard to meal preparation for residents.

Inadequate infection prevention and control practices

• Failure to implement infection prevention and control measures; and
• Failure to ensure environmental hygiene, and suboptimal pest control.

Failure to ensure a safe environment

• Poorly maintained infrastructure and environment, with multiple hazards posing injury risks to both residents and staff.

The ministry said it had issued a notice of intended revocation on Jun 2 and gave the operator 14 days to respond.

In its reply, LC Nursing Home acknowledged the findings and did not dispute the non-compliances.

“While LC Nursing Home assured MOH that they would take remedial actions to address the findings, the plan provided by LC Nursing Home was very brief, without clear milestones set, and did not provide sufficient assurance,” the ministry said.

After reviewing the response and audit findings, MOH concluded that the operator was unable to continue providing nursing home services safely.

MOH said it is working to ensure that affected residents are transferred to suitable alternative homes ahead of the November deadline.

On its website, LC Nursing Home said it operates under “one of the lowest pricing models for private nursing homes” in Singapore, adding that it accepts government-subsidised residents into its care.

The home’s residential services include palliative and “end-of-life” care, with 24/7 nursing services.

Its founder and CEO, Dr Chia Yang Pong, also runs a hospital in Batam and a nursing home in Johor Bahru, according to the website.