HEALTH Minister Patrice Minors yesterday denied allegations that residents of Pembroke Rest Home were neglected for hours at a time over the Christmas holidays, allegedly forced to fend for themselves because of a staffing crisis.

Claims had earlier been made to this newspaper that on two occasions ? Wednesday, December 28 and Friday, December 30 ? residents were left to care for themselves between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

That information was supported by Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson, who said she was well aware of the incidents, which she learned about from "a very reliable source".

But Mrs. Minors denied this was true.

"Nursing coverage is provided for eight to16 hours each day. It has been reported that during the Christmas period, a nurse scheduled to work on one shift called in sick. However, nursing coverage was provided during the course of that day and at no time were residents left unattended.

"Geriatric aides are always present providing care." The Health Department assumed responsibility for the Parsons Road home in December in a response to charges that the facility provided sub-standard care.

This newspaper reported in November that it had been made aware of certain conditions ? patients with festering bedsores, cooks smoking while on duty and general, all-round neglect.

At the time, we were also informed that the person charged with running the rest home did so only on a part-time basis, and that insufficient funding saw staff frequently paid late and outstanding bills allowed to mount.

The matter was taken to Parliament by Mrs. Jackson, after which the Pembroke Parish Council agreed the Department of Health would assume responsibility for the rest home's future operations.

"A health visitor from the Department of Health has been seconded to serve as the nursing administrator," Mrs. Minors said. "In addition, the Chief Nursing Officer has started to actively recruit full-time, permanent nursing staff for the facility."

She said patient care was provided with a staff of registered nurses, enrolled nurses and geriatric aides.

"Nursing coverage is provided for eight to 16 hours each day. Geriatric aides are always present, providing care."

The care provided was consistent with present regulation, the Minister added.

Yesterday, Mrs. Jackson said she had no reason to doubt the version of events as she had been told them.

"I have been told by a very reliable source that when the director went on holiday over the Christmas break, there was a shortage of nursing staff at the home and that residents were left alone for long periods of time with no one to attend to them," she said.

"Understandably, the residents there were very upset at not having any nursing staff there. A lot of these people are not in a position to understand what's going on. Particularly, if people aren't well, it's a scary situation to be in. The home is flat out denying this has happened but I know it to be true."

The Shadow Minister likened the seriousness of the incident to a situation at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where elderly patients were allegedly missing meals because they were unable to feed themselves.

"I think we're finally forging ahead with seniors but there's so many other battles out there," she said. "(The Pembroke Nursing Home) still doesn't have a full-time administrator. They brought in Mrs. Furbert from the Health Department, but she's only in and out on a part-time basis. There were days when there was no registered nurse there and the situation is still not as it should be."

She added it was time the Government dealt with the problem instead of ignoring it.

"The United Bermuda Party has really had a hard time trying to make this Government understand that people who can't help themselves should have a proper, full-time staff. It's also scary for the families.

"I would like the Minister to do something. It's a serious problem in her Ministry. I really don't think she understands what being a Minister is about. It's her responsibility to deal with these things."