KEY POINTS:
A formal apology for poor quality care has been made to an intellectually disabled man who suffered in state-funded care.
It comes as a senior Ministry of Health official admits there is no way to know whether the thousands of caregivers for intellectually disabled people are actually capable
of doing the jobs they are hired to do.
Over a year, Guy Tuffin was left to sleep on a urine-soaked and faeces- covered mattress, isolated from planned activities and not given medication he needs to maintain a good quality of life.
The findings of a Health and Disability Commissioner investigation into Tuffin's care will be made public this week and carry a harsh reprimand for the care provided by taxpayer-funded disability services provider Spectrum Care Trust.
It adds to a slew of reports of abuse and neglect heard by Parliament's social services committee. National MP Paul Hutchison said "systemic abuse" included a woman with cerebral palsy abandoned in a wheelchair for four days without food, cases of intellectually disabled people being beaten by caregivers and a woman dead for 48 hours while her care staff ticked off half-hourly reports to show she was being closely monitored.
Spectrum Care Trust, which houses 400 intellectually disabled people in 80 houses across Auckland, was ordered by the commission to formally apologise to Tuffin.
The Health and Disability Commission slated the care received by Tuffin and expressed concern that staff - paid about $14 an hour - believed they were discouraged to bring complaints and concerns to management. It also highlighted the insufficient training of staff working with Tuffin.
It has ordered the trust's houses to be subject to monthly spot checks and puts in place training on the Health and Disability Code of Rights.
Spectrum Care Trust says it has already put in place many of the changes. The commissioner's report also stated Tuffin had received such poor care consideration was given to prosecuting the care provider.
David Crisp, the Ministry of Health business manager for the disability sector, described the Tuffin case as "deplorable" and "abhorrent". He said there was no way for the ministry to know if caregivers were doing a good job until "something goes wrong".
"The workforce in the disability sector is a significant issue and of concern to the ministry and the Government." He said the ministry also acknowledged there were not enough training courses to give staff skills for such a challenging job.
