Government representatives have visited the Pembroke rest home and are working to address staff issues there, the Assistant Director of the Department of Communications and Information said last week.

Valerie Pethen said the Ministry of Health has been monitoring the rest home and working with its council over the past few months. She said the ongoing process is ensuring that patient care is not compromised and that the facility meets operational standards.

"In addition, an officer from the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged has visited Pembroke Rest Home periodically and last Tuesday the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Cann, met with the Council at the facility as part of the ongoing process," she said.

Mrs. Pethen was responding to comments made by Shadow Health and Family Services Minister Louise Jackson earlier this week about conditions at the seniors' home.

On November 4 the Mid Ocean News reported that residents had festering bed sores, a cook that smoked and staff that neglected them.

In response to the article the staff wrote a letter to the editor and spoke with The Royal Gazette last week.

They denied the allegations and said they were committed to caring for the residents despite issues they had with the Pembroke Parish Council.

Staff said even though they are poorly paid and lack the necessary resources to do their job, the residents are never neglected.

But Mrs. Jackson maintained that the incidents of neglect did happen and blasted the Government for what she perceived to be inaction on their part.

"From the very first day that she (Health Minister Patrice Minors) heard there were allegations of neglect she should have sent someone, some professional, to that facility to inspect it and see what the situation was," Mrs. Jackson said.