No hygiene lapses at nursing home: MOH

No hygiene lapses at nursing home: MOH
Pictures of the food which is claimed to have been served to a resident at the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged and Sick.
PHOTO: No hygiene lapses at nursing home: MOH

SINGAPORE - No lapses were found in hygiene standards in a well-known nursing home in Yishun.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) cleared Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick of allegations of poor hygiene on its premises. Responding to queries by My Paper yesterday, an MOH spokesman said: "The checks conducted by MOH did not show any significant lapses in food hygiene practices."

Investigations were launched after a former employee accused the nursing home of poor hygiene standards.

Expressing his shock in a March 23 online post, he posted photos to support his claims that food was "served with dead insects" and "the plates and cups have like (sic) algae and black stains".

He also uploaded several photos, presumably taken in the home, of insects in food, dirty medicine cups and worn-out utensils.

In the anonymous post, the person also said: "My main purpose in sharing these photos is not to get the mission home into trouble but it is because I have already (given) feedback many times to them and yet they did not do anything about it."

Sree Narayana, after launching its own probe, said in a previous statement that the allegations were "unfounded".

"The employee had taken the photographs and uploaded them as a way of venting his unhappiness about his impending termination (of service) by the home because of his poor performance," said the statement.

The statement also said that the origins of the insect found on a dish were "unclear" and could have been a deliberate act. Also, the crockery and cutlery were taken at staging points for washing and disposal, where they will naturally be dirty.

The nursing home, which was set up in 1979, houses 224 residents who are aged, sick or mentally ill.

The MOH spokesman added: "Nevertheless, MOH will continue to carry out inspections on the nursing home to ensure that good hygiene is maintained."

whgoh@sph.com.sg


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