Referral warned of Kahui twins risk

Chris and Cru Kahui died of massive head injuries in June 2006. Photo / Supplied

The Kahui family's social worker warned it was possible the twins Chris and Cru could be at risk before they returned home a month before they died, but the warning was not acted on.

Coroner Garry Evans is holding the inquest into the deaths of three-month-old Chris and Cru Kahui in Auckland District Court. He has turned his attention to the avenues available to health professionals for reporting child abuse and dealing with its victims.

A referral from Middlemore Hospital social worker Manaaki Poto, made about one month before the twins died, was never passed on to other health professionals who were dealing with the family, the court was told today.

Under "active problems" the referral states: "possibility twins could be at risk; housing issues; travel and parking."

Under the `"urgency" heading the "immediate" box is ticked.

What the referral does not say is that Ms Poto observed an argument between parents Chris Kahui and Macsyna King while the babies were in the neonatal unit at Middlemore Hospital.

Ms Poto has previously said she saw Ms King being rough with one of the babies as she put him in his cot, and changing his nappy aggressively.

This information only came to light after the babies died.

Nurse Jane Eyres, who was assigned to provide care for the twins, said there was nothing in the information she had received which indicated there were any concerns for the babies. If she had seen the referral or known what Ms Poto had observed she would have increased the number of home visits she made to the Kahui home and taken a second nurse with her.

"Had there been any (concerns for the twins' safety and welfare) I would not have hesitated in having other health care professionals or agencies involved," she said.

Yesterday, Middlemore Hospital social worker Nadine Ingham said there was a lack of communication between statutory organisations like Child Youth and Family (CYF) and health professionals, which meant sometimes information was not shared.

Mrs Ingham said seeing all the information on the Kahui family would have made her "lean more strongly towards making a referral to Child, Youth and Family".

It was sometimes the case that health professionals, such as midwives and social workers, did not approach CYF for information on their clients because to do so would mean CYF would have to become involved, which might jeopardise their relationship with their clients, she said.

Mr Evans yesterday proposed it be made statutory duty for health workers to report any child welfare concerns to the police or Child Youth and Family, which could remove this ethical problem.

- NZPA

\NZP