Nonthaburi Police Discover 81 Beds in Unlicensed Nursing Home
Authorities discovered that the Srimsuk Nursing Home in Nonthaburi was operating with eighty‑one beds despite being licensed for only nine. Police and health officials inspected the facility after reports of a removed red safety box and found possible unlicensed additional buildings. Mental health officials said they are evaluating residents for safety and proper care while investigations continue.
On October 8, 2026, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Mental Health Sirisak Thitidilokrat led a joint inspection team that included Supachai Singho, director of the Health Service Support Center 4; Public Health Director for Nonthaburi Province Pripun Chuljeim; mental‑health relief teams; officials from the Food and Drug Administration; and officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police. They visited the Srimsuk Nursing Home (Limited) in Soi Raewadi 22, which operates as an elderly‑care center. Supachai rang the intercom and confirmed that the visit had been coordinated in advance, noting that the facility had permission to function as a single elderly‑care establishment at that site, while reports of one or two additional female‑dormitory buildings in the Raewadi area remained unverified and would require further inspection.
Officials found that the nursing home was licensed for only nine beds but actually housed eighty‑one residents. Prior to the inspection, Supachai had told Sirisak that the discrepancy might constitute a violation of the Medical Facilities Act. After more than ninety minutes on site, the inspection team proceeded to a nearby female‑dormitory building about 150 metres away.
During the walk, Police Deputy Commander Chokchai Kanjaerien explained that the red safety box installed outside the home was intended for security, especially in areas with many elderly residents, and is comparable to those found at gold shops, malls, or housing projects. He said he was unaware of who had removed the box when the story surfaced and that it would need to be checked again, possibly to be reinstalled later.
Following the inspection, Mental Health Department spokesperson Worotam Chotiphitsasunthon announced that the Minister of Public Health had tasked the department with overseeing the situation. A multidisciplinary team from the department, together with mental‑health relief workers, the Health Service Support Center 4, and police, was deployed to assess all service users. Preliminary observations indicated that about fifty‑eight to sixty residents at the main facility had psychiatric histories and were dependent, while another location housed approximately fourteen to fifteen female residents. The department would evaluate each individual case for physical condition, mental state, and need for continued care.
Worotam added that, based on a visual assessment, no residents showed signs of violence or fell into the yellow‑or‑red risk categories, but a full conclusion awaited detailed multidisciplinary evaluation, especially regarding allegations of violence or chaining, which would require police investigation and legal action. The department’s focus remains on safety and ensuring that residents receive humane, appropriate care.
