Grieving father seeks independent inquiry

The family of Nicholas Stevens, whose body was found in the Waikato River, are calling for an independent investigation into his death.

Stevens, 21, the son of Hamilton City councillor Dave Macpherson, was found dead on Thursday.

He was last seen leaving Waikato Hospital’s Henry Bennett Centre on the afternoon of March 9.

Macpherson received an email from Waikato District Health Board staff on Friday saying the board was launching an internal inquiry into Stevens’ death as part of a serious adverse event review.

But Macpherson said the internal inquiry was inadequate and an independent investigation was needed to hold hospital staff to account. His son was in hospital under a compulsory care order under the Mental Health Act.

‘‘Against strong and repeated opposition from the family, Waikato Hospital granted Nicholas ‘unescorted leave’ from the hospital grounds,’’ Macpherson said.

‘‘Hospital authorities chose not only to ignore our opposition to unescorted leave but planned to extend it on the very day he disappeared.’’

Macpherson understood his son was absent from the hospital grounds for at least 90 minutes before it was discovered he was missing.

Stevens’ care management plan stated that leave was for a maximum of 15 minutes. ‘‘Had Nicholas been on escorted leave, as his family stated was the only safe option at that time, he would almost certainly have been alive today.

‘‘Failing that, had his leave maximum period of 15 minutes been adhered to, and staff been sent to look for him, again Nicholas would almost certainly have been alive today.’’

Waikato DHB communications director Mary Anne Gill said the internal inquiry was part of the process the board was required to follow and would inform the serious adverse event review.

Police have referred Stevens’ death to the coroner.

‘‘There is a process now that we will follow and obviously the coroner’s hearing is the most significant one from our perspective,’’ Gill said. ‘‘Our sincere condolences go out to Dave and his family and we will follow the process obviously knowing they are clearly distraught.’’

Macpherson said the family had written to the hospital at least 12 times before and after Stevens went missing, expressing ‘‘real concerns’’ about his care. ‘‘What we’re saying to the hospital is we’ve done the complaints, you didn’t respond, and it’s too late for an internal investigation.’’

The family wants Waikato DHB to call in the Health and Disability Commissioner or a similar independent body to head the investigation and wish to be consulted on the inquiry’s brief.

Since Stevens’ death, Macpherson had been contacted by members of the public concerned about the care their family members had received at Waikato Hospital.

‘‘We’re more familiar with bureaucracies and systems than most people and we still couldn’t make it work for our son. What hope have people got without our backgrounds?’’

A farewell service for Stevens will be held at the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion on Wednesday at 11am.

In port 7am:

Maersk Juan, 28,361 tons, containers, MWS; Thomas Harrison, 1048 tons, unload fish, Sealord; Bacchante, 88 tons, unload fish, LU3; Janas, 1079 tons, Amaltal; Ocean Odyssey, 120 tons, unload fish, Sanford.

Expected arrivals:

Ningpo, 16,801 tons, containers, BQ, today; Captain MJ Souza, 1468 tons, unload fish, Amaltal; Amaltal Columbia, 1899 tons, unload fish, Amaltal, today; Kakariki, 27,795 tons, unload oil products, MWN, tomorrow; Bella, 30,324 tons, containers, BQ, tomorrow; Westport, 3091 tons, unload cement, MWS, tomorrow; IVS Kittiwake, 19885 tons, unload fertiliser, KQ, Wednesday; ANL Echuca, 18,335 tons, containers, BQ, Thursday; Pelican, 942 tons, berth only, KQE, Friday; Tokyo Car, 46,800 tons, unload vehicles, MCQS, Sunday; Jens Maersk, 30,166 tons, containers, MWS, Sunday.