Ministry moves to close rest home

The Pasifika Centre and Hospital in Mangere last night. Picture / Kenny Rodger

The Ministry of Health has moved to close a rest home and hospital after a series of surprise inspections showed substandard care.

The Director-General of Health took the unusual step of cancelling the certification of the Culverden Group rest home in Mangere, trading as Pasifika Centre and Hospital, a decision the rest home owners say they will fight.

The 100 mostly elderly and Pacific Island patients now face a move to other rest homes, 15 months after concerns were first raised.

The ministry said although Culverden had been given time to upgrade its care, concerns remained that improvements would not be sustained.

An unannounced inspection in December 2004, which followed two complaints of inadequate care, found patients who were left in pain, a sometimes "overpowering smell of urine" and a poor standard of cleaning and laundry. A total of 101 criteria were found to be less than satisfactory.

There were problems with the qualifications and practising certificates of some nurses, and the staffing levels.

Deputy Director-General of Health Colin Feek said the process from first inspection to closure had taken 15 months to give the rest home time to improve its service. By last June progress had been made, the ministry said, but there were "high risk" areas still unaddressed.

The latest inspection in February highlighted concerns of lack of input by health professionals, poorly trained and poorly supported caregivers, and no evidence of adequate planning for ordinary care or emergencies.

One building, deemed unsuitable for patients to live in, was closed down.

Dr Feek said the ministry was not confident improvements would continue once the temporary manager put in place by the ministry last April had gone.

"This is not a decision we take lightly. On one hand, although it did not meet the required safety standards, it has been these people's home and it is quite upsetting and causes a lot of grief to move people. On the other hand, they have not satisfied us they were meeting the standards."

The directors Norma and Ian Anderson said the decision was unfair and severe and they intended to appeal it.

Dr Feek said if their appeal was unsuccessful, the residents would be moved to other rest homes.

Residents who wanted to move straight away could discuss it with the Counties Manukau District Health Board. In the meantime, the temporary manager would stay on to ensure the patients had the necessary care.

Dr Feek said after three inspections since December 2004, the centre was not meeting the safety and care standards needed to meet the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act.

The Andersons said Culverden had been working with the temporary manager.

"The ministry had recently informed Culverden Group that the care was adequate, therefore the ministry's decision is seen by Culverden as unfair and unreasonable to both the staff and current residents, who have already indicated their distress at the prospect of moving."

The couple's spokeswoman, Glenda Hughes, said the ministry had also agreed to an independent audit being done on May 22, so the timing of the decision surprised them.

A district health board spokesman said if the cancellation stood after any appeal, placements would be found for residents in other rest homes.

The Pasifika Centre and Hospital, formerly the Culverden Care Centre and Hospital, is owned by the same people who own the Culverden Retirement Village, which featured in the Herald in 2004 after residents objected to huge fee increases.