Earls Court Village Care home stopped from taking new residents

The administrator of a London nursing home ordered to stop accepting new patients says staff are working to fix problems flagged by provincial inspectors. 

• Ontario halts admissions at 3 nursing homes after inspections reveal 'unacceptable' conditions

The provincial order was issued yesterday for Earls Court Village, a 128-bed nursing home on Highbury Avenue north of Huron Street. 

Residents told inspectors that staffing shortages led to long delays in getting help. One reported soiling their pants because of delays responding to call bells that sometimes stretched longer than 35 minutes. 

A letter from the director of the province's inspection branch says the order against Earls Court was issued "based on my belief there is a risk of harm to the health or well-being of residents."

Nursing homes in Tyndall Nursing Home in Mississauga and and Caressant Care in Fergus received similar orders. 

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins said the homes' failure to meet provincial rules is "completely unacceptable."

"The distressing practice of failing to meet provincial standards will not be accepted in Ontario," he said. 

The inspection reports highlights a number of problems found at Earls Court

They include: 

• Incidents of possible abuse by one resident against another that was not properly reported.
   
• Staff hired without the required police background check.
   
• A nurse practitioner was allowed to use the computer log-in of a registered nurse to administer medication. The RPN made two medication errors that would appear under the RN's name. The RN told inspectors that administrators knew about this. In an interview with inspectors, the home's administrator admitted the home's policy was not followed.

She said staff are working to make the facility compliant with ministry regulations by the end of the month. 

"We continue to be dedicated to providing excellence in care to our residents," she said.

Villeneuve-Rector said staff are working to correct problems with staffing shortages. She also said staff won't be able to work at the home until they receive the required background checks. 

Wait lists are growing, NDP says

During question period Wednesday, London-Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong accused the Liberal government of focusing on the worst offenders instead of opening new homes and improving care.

"[The premier] seems content to stop admissions to the worst homes and ignore the facts [that] the wait-list is growing and conditions across the province are worsening," she said.

Hoskins categorically denied the charge.

"We feel that it's entirely appropriate," he said of the admission orders, arguing that they demonstrate the vast majority of long-term care facilities are up to standard.

Hoskins is also pointing to proposed legislation that would allow the province to fine operators who violate existing standards.