Admissions halted at Woodstock, Ont., care home where Elizabeth Wettlaufer worked

The Ontario health ministry has halted admissions at the Woodstock nursing home where Elizabeth Wettlaufer is accused of killing seven elderly residents.

A directive from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care states that, as of Jan. 26, Caressant Care Woodstock Nursing Home can no longer accept new admissions.

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"The ceasing of admissions has been directed based on my belief that there is a risk of harm to the health or well-being of residents in the home or persons who might be admitted as residents," says the directive signedKaren Simpson, director under the Long-Term Care Homes Act inspections branch.

The order does not provide any details on why residents may be in danger. In a statement, the provincial minister of health Dr.Eric Hoskinssaid the closure is connected with recent inspections at CaressantCare in Woodstock. "It became apparent there were compliance issues [withthe Long-Term Care Homes Act]," said Hoskins.

However, provincial officials also say the concerns over compliance with the Act are with incidents that occurred since August 2016, and do not involve any issues that police have been asked to investigate.

In a statement, Lee Griffi, communications manager for Caressant Care, confirmed that the care-home chain's Woodstock locationhad been closed to new admissions as a result of inspections and that the home was urgently working to improve "certain practices."

"In addition to immediate changes being made by our staff, we have retained an independent, external consultant with expertise in these areas," the statement reads. "We are confident that these actions enable us to better provide for the physical, social and spiritual needs of our residents."

Wettlaufer, 49, worked at Caressant Care from 2007 to 2014. She faces an eighthfirst-degree murder charge in connection with the death of another nursing home resident in London. She also faces four attempted-murder charges and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with alleged crimes over the last decade at three long-term care facilities where she worked, as well as a private home.

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On Tuesday police exhumed the bodies of two alleged victims from a cemeteryin London as part of the investigation.

The former nurse's next court appearance will be on Feb. 15.