Hospital pass for aged

Elderly patients eager to recover at rest homes across the country are spending unnecessary, extended spells in hospital because district health boards (DHBs) won’t test them for Covid-19.

With the older population the most vulnerable to the virus, New Zealand Aged Care Association wants all returning residents to be tested even when they aren’t showing symptoms.

But that’s at odds with Ministry of Health’s directive to DHBs not to test asymptomatic people.

Neville Murchland, of Invercargill, said his 92-year-old mother, who lives independently, has been in Southland Hospital for a month.

The woman, who Stuff has agreed not to name, wanted to recover at Walmsley House, but needed a negative Covid-19 result before she can enter the facility.

Stress, anxiety and loneliness have overcome Murchland’s mother.

‘‘She’s become so weak and down,’’ Murchland said.

Recent phone conversations had become difficult. ‘‘She sounded like she was 150 years old.’’

Murchland has been trying desperately to get his mother out of hospital, but has got nowhere.

‘‘If they just gave her the test, then she’d be out of hospital and then they’d free up another bed. She doesn’t need to be in there.’’

Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie said the DHB’s refusal to test the woman was ‘‘bizarre’’ and it appeared ‘‘logical thinking had gone out the window’’.

Murchland’s problem was far from an isolated one. Staff at Christchurch’s Burwood Hospital were refusing to test so 90-year-old Mary Kincaid meaning she too was stuck, deteriorating and growing weaker by the day.

Further north, a 91-year-old woman was admitted to Hutt Hospital on April 6 for an infection, but was well enough to leave two days later.

But because Ryman Healthcareowned Shona McFarlane Residential Village required residents returning from hospital to be tested, the woman – who required high levels of care – could not leave.

Fellow Shona McFarlane resident Sylvia Heaven, aged 93, spent three weeks at the same hospital for the same reason.

Following Stuff inquiries, both women were tested on Tuesday – with

Sylvia Heaven was only supposed to be in hospital for a few days but remained there for nearly four weeks as the Hutt DHB would not test her for Covid-19 because she wasn’t showing symptoms.