KEY POINTS:
Health Minister David Cunliffe looks set to implement calls for minimum staffing levels and spot checks in resthomes.
Following a series of serious cases of abuse and neglect at resthomes, including questions being raised about a man's death in Christchurch and a woman in Auckland having her mouth taped shut, providers and unions have called for changes.
Healthcare Providers New Zealand chief executive Martin Taylor said spot checks at resthomes would improve public confidence - a call backed by the National Party.
And last month the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and the Service and Food Workers Union presented a petition with over 10,000 signatures calling for legal minimum staffing levels in residential facilities.
The Press reported today that Mr Cunliffe was about to present a paper to Cabinet to implement those changes. He also wanted league tables to rate resthomes.
"I don't think the current auditing system is perfect and I am keen to improve it," Mr Cunliffe told the newspaper.
Mr Cunliffe said audits should be made public and there should be more unannounced audits. He also wanted to stop rest homes being able to choose the company that audited them on behalf of health boards.
Minimum staffing levels should also be introduced over time.
But Mr Taylor said that would cost millions of dollars without improving patient care as it would increase the number of nurses but not caregivers.
- NZPA
