MPs demand answers on ‘toilet contracts’ for nursing homes

Junior health minister Martin van Rijn has come under pressure from MPs over reports that care homes have asked elderly residents to sign contracts restricting how often they can use the toilet.

The Grootenhoek care home in Hellevoetsluis, near Rotterdam, admitted it had designated fixed toilet breaks in a contract with one resident to reduce pressure on its staff, but insisted it was not policy. The contract fixed the male resident’s daily toilet times at 11am, 2pm and 6pm.

Sjoerd Potter, an MP for the governing Liberal (VVD) party, called on Labour (PvdA) minister Van Rijn to investigate the incident, which was first reported by local news network RTV Rijnmond. ‘This ridiculous behaviour by the care home needs to stop today. This is not how we treat our elderly people.’

Henk Krol, leader of the 50Plus party, said he would be submitting questions in Parliament. He said he had encountered unusual practices in care homes before, but added: ‘Nothing has left such a bitter taste as this.’

Careyn, the company that manages the care home, is on a list of underperforming care providers that Van Rijn published in July. The company was placed under ‘intensive extra supervision’, the highest of four categories of intervention available to care inspectors.