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MOH: Why nursing home probe needs more time

This article is more than 12 months old

Health Ministry says this is because family of former patient had made multiple allegations against Orange Valley Nursing Home

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has responded to a Facebook post questioning how it has handled an allegation of negligence in a nursing home.

The initial complaint was filed in 2016, after the condition of a patient, Mr Ang Rong Sheng, deteriorated sharply following a stay at Orange Valley Nursing Home in Clementi.

The home was then owned by private equity firm KV Asia Capital before its management changed hands last year.

Mr Ang died of pneumonia last month at age 64.

In a widely shared post last week, Mr Ang's son-in-law Davis Ong said the issue has not yet been resolved: "What is taking the ministry so long despite the gravity of such a case?"

MOH said last Saturday in response to The Straits Times' queries that its inquiries are still under way.

"The investigations have taken more time as there were multiple allegations made by Mr Ang's family against the nursing home," a ministry spokesman said. He added that nursing homes are governed by the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA).

"If there are any breaches to the PHMCA, MOH will take appropriate actions against the licensee of the nursing home, which could include prosecution, suspension or revocation of the licence, or a composition fine."

If a healthcare professional is at fault, MOH could also refer the person to the relevant professional board for disciplinary action.

Mr Ong's Facebook post stated that Mr Ang was admitted to the Orange Valley home after a stroke. But 20 days later, he was rushed to a public hospital severely dehydrated and in a critical condition.

Mr Ang was eventually taken to a different nursing home, where he remained "unresponsive, non-communicative... and fully bed-bound" until he died, wrote Mr Ong.

Mr Ong, a 39-year-old engineering specialist, told The Straits Times last Thursday that his father-in-law's condition had seemed to worsen each time the family visited him at the Orange Valley facility. However, the staff told them his condition was normal.

"I had no reason to doubt qualified nurses," he said. "My wife has been very emotionally affected by the incident, which has drained the whole family."

In a chain of e-mails between Orange Valley and Mr Ong's wife, the home said Mr Ang was fed at his bedside instead of the common dining area due to "behaviour issues" over 11 days. However, it was not able to find records of his food intake.

"We sincerely apologise for these lapses," it wrote, and offered to waive fees related to Mr Ang's hospitalisation "as a gesture of apology".

When The Straits Times approached previous owner KV Asia, it referred all queries to the current Orange Valley management. Singapore Press Holdings acquired it last year.

An Orange Valley spokesman said it was aware of the 2016 case and empathises with the family over the loss.

"As this case happened under previous owner KV Asia, the current management is working with MOH on providing records where available on the case," he said.

MEDICAL & HEALTH