Nursing Home in Changi Has Its License Revoked for Failing to Adhere to COVID-19 Safeguards

Getting away with breaking the law in Singapore is like opening a bag of potato chips and eating just one chip; it’s theoretically possible, but highly unlikely.

Just ask the Sovereign Lady of Shunfu who thought she was above the law because she, well, declared she was above the law.

Whether you’re an individual riding your PMD on the expressway or a business flouting safe distancing rules, the gahmen will find you and punish you.

Nursing Home in Changi Has Its License Revoked for Failing to Adhere to COVID-19 Safeguards

Thian Leng Old Folks Home, a nursing home located near Changi Road, had its license revoked last Friday (31 July) for flouting licensing requirements and failing to adhere to Covid-19 safeguards.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said they noted a “rising number of non-compliances” since May 2019, many of which were unresolved during subsequent inspections.

Then in 2020, or the year of the coronavirus, the ministry noted that the home also failed to adhere to Covid-19 precautionary measures that were put in place to protect staff and residents.

As a result, their license was taken away.

According to The Straits Times, the lapses which were discovered during an audit included:

• issues with the format of visitor forms
• safe distancing protocols for its residents

“They were technically not so serious… We did not have any Covid-19 cases among our residents and staff”, said Liu Kim Beng, chairman of the home’s management committee.

MOH Had Assisted the Home

MOH had actually assisted the care facility on four occasions by sending professional staff to the home to help out but the ministry continued to detect lapses in the home’s care standards.

Now, that’s just plain ungrateful. 

“As such, the home’s licence was revoked on July 31, 2020, to ensure the safety and well-being of residents are not put at risk”, MOH said.

Arrangements Made For Residents

MOH didn’t simply release the poor old residents of the home into the wild to fend for themselves, of course.

According to ST, the old folks have been placed in other nursing homes.

MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care have also helped staff members find new jobs at other nursing homes.

Liu says there were around 60 residents and over 10 foreign employees who were re-employed in other care facilities.

One Visitor a Day Allowed For Nursing Homes

After the Covid-19 outbreak in Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home, visitors were barred from nursing homes across the country.

But the government eased this restriction after the country shifted to Phase 2, and now residents can have one visitor a day.

According to CNA, nursing homes are also required to have dedicated visitation areas and implement safe distancing rules.

This case shows that no matter how essential your business is, the government won’t hesitate to cancel it if you break the rules.