In brief
The Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a notice of licence revocation to a nursing home on 18 June 2026, after finding serious and systemic lapses in resident safety, clinical and nursing care and infection prevention control practices. MOH informed the operator of its intention to revoke its licence to provide nursing home services with effect from 30 October 2026.
The four-month timeline is to allow time to transfer current residents to other nursing homes. MOH has deployed an interim care team from 18 June 2026 to safeguard residents' safety and wellbeing, and to ensure they receive proper care during the transition.
Key takeaways
- MOH’s action demonstrates its willingness to take firm regulatory enforcement action. In this case, as the nursing home still has residents under its care, MOH established an interim care team to ensure that the needs of such residents continue to be met during the transition to revocation.
- MOH actively takes enforcement actions against non-compliant licensees under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA). HCSA licensees should ensure that they comply with all licence conditions and applicable regulatory requirements to avoid enforcement action. As seen from the present case, failure to meet requisite standards may result in a revocation of the licence.
In more detail
In April 2026, an MOH audit of the nursing home revealed serious and systemic lapses in resident safety, clinical and nursing care, and infection prevention control practices. These lapses were compounded by a lack of governance and adequate oversight by the nursing home's key office holders.
In particular, MOH found that the nursing home had provided inadequate clinical and nursing care, including failures to conduct appropriate reviews for residents in areas such as falls, pressure injuries, weight loss, and failures to follow up on, or adhere to, residents' care plans, as well as poor medication management, including omitted medications, use of expired medications and discrepancies in medication quantity.
The MOH audit also found lapses in the provision of basic care to residents. This included neglect of the residents' fundamental care needs, such as basic grooming, and failing to provide appropriate nutrition based on their individual needs. There was also improper storage of food ingredients used to prepare meals, with some ingredients found to be expired.
In addition, the audit found inadequate infection and control practices, including failures to implement infection prevention control measures and to ensure hygiene and sanitation in housekeeping processes.
The MOH audit further found that key office holders had failed to exercise clinical governance over the care delivered to residents and had not provided adequate oversight of the operation and maintenance of the premises.
Prior to issuing the revocation notice, MOH had on 5 May 2026 issued a notice to the nursing home regarding its intended revocation. The nursing home was given an opportunity to submit representations, and the period for doing so was extended from 14 days to 28 days at the request of the nursing home.
After considering the nursing home's representations and audit findings, MOH assessed that the nursing home was unable to continue providing nursing home services safely. MOH issued a notice to revoke the nursing home's licence to provide nursing home services under the Healthcare Services Act 2020, with the revocation intended to take effect on 30 October 2026.
To safeguard residents’ safety and wellbeing during the transition period, the MOH has deployed an interim care team to the nursing home with effect from 18 June 2026. The team is intended to ensure that residents continue to receive proper care while arrangements are made for their transfer to other nursing homes.
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