News that an 88-year-old rest-home patient with dementia was made to wear someone else's dirty false teeth after her's were lost has been greeted with further disgust.
The Bay of Plenty Times yesterday broke the story of how Rosey Ross was disgusted to find her mother Elleanor Tippler, pictured, wearing someone else's dentures at Melrose Rest Home and Health.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said his office had not received a complaint from Mrs Ross, but he was appalled.
"This sort of thing should not happen. If it did, it is entirely unacceptable," he said.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board revealed Western Bay rest-homes had been the subject of five complaints in 2012.
Planning and funding general manager Helen Mason said there were 24 rest homes in the Western Bay.
Ms Mason had been in contact with Mrs Ross to outline the complaints process and investigate her mother's treatment.
She had also contacted Melrose Rest Home and the Health Consumer Advocacy Service since a meeting to resolve the matter was cancelled and was awaiting a response.
"Whilst rest home providers have 20 days to respond in writing to any complaints, we expect we will have a response sooner, as our experience is that our rest-homes are responsive when these matters are drawn to their attention," she said.
Bay of Plenty Times reader Bruce Williams, who worked in UK rest homes for five years, said staff who worked with dementia patients dealt with difficult conditions.
"There's not enough staff. They are underpaid," he said. "But they do care because they wouldn't survive there if they didn't."