KEY POINTS:
A nurse who did nothing to help an elderly woman suffering severe injuries from unwitnessed falls until days later breached professional and ethical standards.
The rest home has also been found to have provided inadequate care.
Health and Disability Deputy Commissioner Rae Lamb investigated after the woman's daughter complained about the care provided.
Her mother had been living in the rest home and it is suspected she fell twice on November 11, 2005.
She complained of back pain and was reported to be pale and shaky but was not taken to hospital until the on-call GP was called November 13.
She was found to have multiple fractures.
The nurse said the woman had not been exhibiting any evidence of significant injuries, which was why she had not taken action earlier. The woman had suffered back pain in the past.
The woman's daughter said her mother had been placed in the home to give her terminally ill father respite.
"She arrived as a level three patient, was capable of walking to the dining room (albeit semi-aided) and left the rest home by ambulance with two broken hips and a broken arm requiring level five care for the rest of her life."
The woman died in 2006.
The nurse is no longer practising.
Ms Lamb recommended both the nurse and the rest home write letters of apology to the woman's daughter.
She said if the nurse wanted to return to practise, a competence review should be considered by the Nursing Council.
The care of the woman was ultimately the nurse's responsibility and she failed to do her professional duty, Ms Lamb said.
"Overall, I do not consider that [the nurse] took adequate steps to ensure that [the woman] received appropriate and timely care."
The rest home also failed to provide adequate care, because it should have ensured a nurse was present when the woman wanted to walk.
- NZPA
