Rest home care under fire in capital

The Health and Disability Commission (HDC) has launched an investigation into two Wellington rest homes after claims of staff negligence and mistreatment of residents.

Dayani Navaratnam contacted the commission earlier this year about the ‘‘sub-standard care’’ both her parents received at Churtonleigh Lifecare over the past few years, as well as her father’s care at Millvale House in Miramar.

Churtonleigh Lifecare, which now operates as Ultimate Care Churtonleigh, was aware of Navaratnam’s complaints and was taking the issue ‘‘very seriously.’’

‘‘We are aware of this complaint that came to us via the HDC office in March. We have provided all information to the commissioner that was requested at the time and we are now awaiting the outcome,’’ said Ultimate Care Group general manager clinical services Carole Kaffes.

‘‘We have worked closely with the complainant both when she was in the country visiting her parents and when she was calling from overseas.’’

The organisation had previously received an internal complaint from Navaratnam about two incidents related to the care of her father, Vincent Fernando – one pertained to an incident where his penis was allegedly twisted painfully and another that his possessions were mistreated.

A full investigation was undertaken by Ultimate Care Group, which dismissed the twisting incident; however, fault was admitted in regards to Fernando’s possessions being thrown into black plastic bags and left in a corridor.

‘‘It is clear we have not followed policy and procedure and that has resulted in the poor treatment of your father’s possessions,’’ a report into the incidents stated.

Fernando died in 2017 from complications related to pneumonia, which Navaratnam believed could have been prevented had Millvale House, where Fernando was living, been more proactive in getting him help and notifying his family of the dire situation.

‘‘Dad had been bleeding from the mouth on the sixth day of his illness ... the clinical manager and the staff kept insisting that his condition wasn’t serious.

‘‘I don’t want any other parents to go through what my parents have gone through. I can’t get away from how [my father] died.’’

Dementia Care NZ operation management leader Vicky Jones said Millvale House, which they run, was aware of the situation and hoped to have this resolved as quickly as possible.

In her complaint to the HDC, Navaratnam also raised concerns about Churtonleigh Lifecare’s treatment of her mother Agnes Fernando, particularly in relation to medication.

Fernando, who is in her early 80s and is bedridden, has since been transferred to a different rest home.

A spokesperson for HDC said it would not comment about specific complaints ‘‘it is considering or may receive’’.

‘‘HDC facilitates the fair and efficient resolution of complaints concerning infringements of patient rights. In this regard, it acts as an independent decision-maker and must observe the principles of natural justice.

‘‘This requires that all parties are afforded a full opportunity to consider and respond to complaints that have been made and that all relevant evidence is considered and assessed before the commissioner makes a decision about the appropriate resolution path.’’

‘‘Dad had been bleeding from the mouth on the sixth day of his illness ... the clinical manager and the staff kept insisting that his condition wasn’t serious.’’ Dayani Navaratnam