WZC Inspectorate: “Serious shortcomings”, protective measures imposed

Contrary to previous reports in the media, the Healthcare Inspectorate has stated that serious shortcomings have indeed been identified with regard to medication procedures and medication safety in the facility.

“These serious shortages are alarming and incomprehensible. Following the events in the residential care center in 2020 and 2021, we should have even expected increased attention for this theme in the facility,” said Dirk Dewolf, administrator-general of Care and Health. That is why we have decided to immediately impose protective measures on the residential care center to guarantee the safety of the residents, such as appointing an external expert by the responsible management authority to fine-tune the procedures for medication safety and wound care in a sustainable way in the day-to-day operation of the residential care center. In the meantime, an admission stop will be imposed until the policy in the residential care center is improved. The residential care center must report at least weekly on the actions taken in this regard.”

Finally, Care and Health emphasizes that the Agency was not informed by the public prosecutor or the residential care center of the serious incidents that took place. “I note and deeply regret that we were not aware of this, despite the fact that reporting such serious events has been a legal requirement since 2020. We will therefore bring this obligation back to the attention of the facilities. If the facilities do not report such events at the request of the court, that is problematic. I will consult with the judicial authorities about this,” said Dirk Dewolf, administrator-general of Care and Health.

According to the permanent office and the majority faction Oostrozebeke.nu, the inspection had declared everything in order, “except for a few minor administrative remarks”.

“No Cover Up”

The party Oostrozebeke.nu also responds to the ‘cover up operation’ that the opposition party is talking about. “There is no cover-up operation. The report by the chief nurse and coordinating and advising doctor to the police on 19 November 2020 and the start of a judicial investigation obliged the residential care center to respect the secrecy of the investigation.”