City revokes operating licence for Rosslyn, Edgemount Manor

The city has revoked the businesses licences for two care facilities one of which is the site of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreak in Hamilton.

Sixteen people who lived at the Rosslyn Retirement Residence have died. The home, which is associated with the Martino family,was evacuated on May 15 amid an outbreak that infected 64 residents and 22 staff members.

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) recently announced it had revoked the home's licence and a statement from the city points to that as the reason its Residential Care Facility Business Licence was also pulled.

The regulator's move "resulted in the expiration of the property's license to operate," it reads.

"Currently, the Rosslyn is vacant, and residents remain in the hospital," the statement adds. "The City continues to work with the RHRA to determine appropriate supports for the residents going forward."

The city also notes the Martinos can try to get their licence renewed and, if refused, appeal to the Hamilton Licensing Tribunal.

Even before the home was emptied, inspections by public health and the RHRApointed to issues around infection prevention and controland a "failure to protect residents from neglect" and ordered the home's ownerto make changes before it could reopen.

Representatives of the home did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the licence revocation. The home has also not answered repeated questions in recent weeks about the situation there, the outbreak and resident deaths.

The other site that's had its business licence revoked is Edgemount Manor.

The lodging home isclosed and under construction following a fire from September 2019.

All residents were moved to different facilities owned by the same operator following the fire, according to thecity.

"To ensure that the facility meets By-Law requirements, the City of Hamilton has temporarily suspended the RCF license for this property," it states."This suspension will remain in effect until the City is satisfied that the facility is ready to resume operations."