Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Belfair care centre in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is under strict supervision following an inspection in June 2025, which found staff shortages, poor medication handling, and weak infrastructure. Spokesperson Joris Moonens warned that urgent improvements are required.
As VRT News reported, the Belfair residential care centre in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw has been placed under strict supervision following an inspection by the Department of Care, which revealed several major shortcomings. The inspection was conducted in June 2025 at the Godfried Van Leuvenlaan facility and resulted in an official warning.
Spokesman Joris Moonens indicated that Belfair’s issues are not tied to a single failure but to several shortcomings, which raise questions about the quality of daily care. There were not enough full-time nurses, according to the inspectors, and they pointed out that there was no necessary staff, such as an end-of-life specialist. Concerns were also raised about the handling of medication and wound treatment, both considered essential to safeguard the health of residents.
What problems put Belfair care home, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw under supervision?
Inspectors reported the home’s facilities fall below standards, mentioning there are not enough wheelchair-accessible toilets for its residents with mobility issues. Additional inspections and time limits for changes have been issued, with penalties or bans possible if changes are not realised within the stipulated time.
“In a residential care centre, several procedures apply regarding how medication should be handled and how people should be cared for. These procedures must ensure, for example, that people receive the correct medication and that it is stored correctly,”
Moonens said.
Spokesperson Joris Moonens explained that the decision to tighten supervision at Belfair follows clear concerns about how daily procedures are being carried out in the residential care centre.
“We see that these procedures are not being followed sufficiently in the residential care centre. This doesn’t always mean a mistake has been made, but it does, of course, increase the risk. That’s sufficient reason for us to increase vigilance,”
He said.
The Department of Care emphasised that, although no direct mistakes have been identified, the failure to strictly follow medical and organisational procedures poses an increased risk to residents. Inspectors tied the warning to issues with medication management, wound care, and a lack of qualified staff, warning that these shortcomings point to a vulnerable situation within the facility.
“We only do this if problems have been identified repeatedly and are not being adequately addressed. Moreover, new deficiencies have surfaced since the last inspection,”
Moonens said.
The Department stated that no residential care centre is placed under increased supervision without serious problems. Such a measure is only applied when earlier shortcomings remain unresolved or when the quality of care no longer meets minimum safety standards.
In Belfair’s case, the shortcomings were considered serious enough to demand urgent steps. The management has been instructed to deliver a detailed action plan within 15 days, explaining how staff shortages, care quality problems, and accessibility issues will be resolved.
In recent years, other residential care centres in Flanders have also come under strict supervision after inspections revealed serious shortcomings. In 2022, the residential care home Hemelrijck in Mol was placed under increased monitoring because of staff shortages, weak medical follow-up, and problems with hygiene.
In 2023, a residential care home in Oudenaarde was also put under tighter control after inspectors found issues with wound treatment and the handling of medication. In both situations, management was ordered to submit a concrete plan for improvements within a short deadline, and follow-up visits were organised to check if standards were met.
