KEY POINTS:
The Auckland District Health Board says it had no choice but to terminate its contract with the Belhaven Rest Home after a draft report questioned the safety of the 10 residents.
The rest home has been under investigation since a resident was gagged with tape, reportedly for making
too much noise.
The 10 residents will be moved within the next day after the board terminated its aged related residential care contract today.
Of the 10, eight are funded by the board.
Board chief planning and funding officer Dr Denis Jury told NZPA the decision was the best outcome for the home to ensure the safety and care of its residents.
The closure had been made based on the preliminary findings of the ministry's ongoing investigation and the recommendations of the temporary manager appointed by the board last week.
Dr Jury said it became apparent when the initial draft of the certification review report was submitted two days ago the contract would have to be terminated.
A temporary manager was appointed because Belhaven had failed to comply with the obligations set out within their contract with the board.
The running of the home was taken over by the board last week after a picture of the gagged woman - taken by a tradesman - was published in a Sunday newspaper.
Dr Jury said a decision was made yesterday to terminate the contract and the residents' families were contacted this morning.
There was no one incident which led to the decision but rather a general lack of systems and processes to show the home could adequately manage and care for the residents, he said.
Dr Jury said the board was working closely with families to ensure the residents were looked after.
Despite terminating the contract, Dr Jury said he had a positive outlook surrounding the state of aged care in Auckland.
"This was an isolated incident, that's why we have moved quickly to find out what happened."
The board had looked at its own processes to ensure any systems surrounding aged care were not found lacking, he said.
The final review on the rest home is due to be released next week.
Health Minister David Cunliffe welcomed the decision and said the priority was safety and wellbeing of patients.
"I am entirely satisfied that today's decision is in the best interests of the patients."
He said the elderly had the right to be treated with dignity and respect and have their clinical needs met.
However, Age Concern tonight criticised the "unseemly haste" in removing the residents at only 24 hours notice.
"Age Concern works to combat elder abuse wherever it occurs and we welcome moves, however belated, to keep the Belhaven residents safe," Age Concern New Zealand's chief executive Ann Martin said.
"However, it might be far better for the vulnerable senior residents to be kept safe in the place they regard as their home, and their carers given additional assistance and oversight, rather than moved with such unseemly haste.
"A managed transition out of Belhaven would have been better for everyone.
- NZPA
