Serious rest home breach suspected

One of three official inquiries into an Auckland rest home could result in disciplinary action being taken against the home's operator.

The Waitemata District Health Board nine days ago appointed a temporary manager to run Birkenhead Lodge Retirement Home amid concerns about management and care provided to residents. As well the Health and Disability Commission ordered three inquiries into the home.

Acting Commissioner Rae Lamb told the Herald on Sunday two investigations were continuing and a third had concluded the case was serious enough to be referred to the commission's director of proceedings to conduct an independent review and consider disciplinary action. That happened only where investigators concluded a "serious breach" of conduct had occurred.

Age Concern North Shore said it had been "repeatedly denied access" to the home as it tried to investigate complaints from residents and their relatives during the past three years.

Elder abuse prevention service co-ordinator Jennie Michel said that after receiving a "variety" of complaints it had filed a report with the WDHB. Michel suspected residents might have been "intimidated" into withdrawing complaints. On the rare occasion someone from the team had been allowed to speak with them, they had insisted everything was fine.

Rodney Deeble, a lawyer for the home's owner-operator Savita Mistry, said yesterday his client expected to regain full control within weeks.

A spokesman for the WDHB said it could not comment on specific allegations and referred the Herald on Sunday to the owner. Deeble said the terms of Mistry's contract with the WDHB prevented her from responding to the allegations.