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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, to a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk on meals of residential care homes for the elderly in the Legislative Council today (June 11):
Question:
It has been reported that some concern groups on elderly rights alleged that recently, the majority of residential care homes for the elderly ("RCHEs") bought discarded pork from meat stalls to make dishes for their residents in order to cut expenses, and that such RCHEs even reduced the quantity of food per meal provided to their residents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of complaints received by the Government in the past three years about the quality of the food provided by RCHEs to their residents and among such complaints, the number of substantiated cases, and the penalties imposed on the RCHEs concerned;
(b) whether the guidelines formulated by the Government on the quality of the food provided by RCHEs also set out the recommended quantity of food per meal;
(c) whether it will consider including the quantity and quality of food provided by RCHEs in the licensing conditions for RCHEs; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(d) given that the allegation of the above concern groups involves the health of the elderly, whether the authorities will consider taking the initiative to conduct an investigation into the situation to address public concern; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Answer:
Madam President,
(a) In the past three years, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) received a total of 152 complaints against residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) relating to nutrition and diet. These included complaints against RCHEs for failing to provide food according to pre-set menus, inappropriate meal time, unsatisfactory food quality, etc. A total of 16 complaints relating to food quality were found substantiated after investigation. Advice or warning letters were subsequently issued by the Licensing Office of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (LORCHE) to the concerned RCHEs for rectification and improvement. Inspectors of LORCHE subsequently conducted further inspections to concerned RCHEs and confirmed that appropriate rectification and improvement actions had been taken.
(b) In the Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) (the Code) issued by LORCHE to all RCHE operators, there is a chapter on "Nutrition and Diet", setting out detailed guidelines on food provision, including the design of menu, choice of food, preparation and serving of food, meal time, and nutrition, etc. Professional views from dietitians and medical staff of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority as well as representatives from the service sector were sought in compiling the relevant chapter. Because the quantity of food required by each elderly resident may vary according to his/her body conditions, medical needs, personal preference and other factors, the Code has not set out the recommended quantity of food per meal. Nonetheless, the Code stipulates that RCHEs should provide appropriate, hygienic and balanced diet according to the needs of elderly residents and should continuously monitor their nutritional status, including their body weight and level of food intake, etc. and to seek medical advice if necessary.
(c) At present, LORCHE processes licence applications in accordance with the licensing requirements laid down in the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance (the Ordinance), its subsidiary legislation and the Code on four major aspects: fire safety, building safety, health and care services, and management. Licence will be issued to an RCHE only when it is in full compliance with the aforesaid requirements. As pointed out above, since the needs of individual elderly resident may vary, it is not feasible to include the quantity of food provided by RCHEs as one of the licensing requirements. Nonetheless, the Code has already required RCHEs to provide appropriate, hygienic and balanced diet. LORCHE will, according to the situation, issue advice or warning to the RCHE concerned, and direct the RCHE to make rectification and improvement if any non-compliance with the requirements on food provision in the Code is found. By virtue of Sections 19 and 20 of the Ordinance, if RCHEs fail to comply with the directions for rectification and improvement, the Director of Social Welfare may direct that the premises concerned shall cease to be used as a residential care home.
(d) At present, inspectors of LORCHE conduct random inspections to RCHEs from time to time to examine the food provision in RCHEs. In view of recent public concern over food provision in RCHEs, LORCHE has, where possible, arranged inspectors to conduct inspections during meal time. Inspectors will also remind RCHEs to strictly comply with the requirements on food provision in the Code. Apart from checking the menu, observing food preparation, examining the quantity and quality of food provided to residents, the inspectors will also collect feedback from residents so as to have a comprehensive assessment on the food provision in RCHEs. Advice or warning letters will be issued to those RCHEs which fail to comply with the requirements in the Code. Moreover, with strengthened manpower since 2007-08, LORCHE has further stepped up the frequency of inspection to RCHEs. Inspections have been extended to non-office hours, Sundays and public holidays with a view to ensuring the service quality of RCHEs.
Ends/Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:39
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