Health minister expresses confidence in disabled care

Despite critical reports on some providers in the disabled care sector, including allegations of unsafe conditions, medical mistreatment and financial mismanagement, Health Minister Pete Hodgson says he has confidence in the system.

Yesterday it was revealed that Focus 2000 Ltd, the business arm of the Cerebral Palsy Society, one of Auckland's largest disabled care providers, had been forced to repay $2.5 million after ministry audits revealed "abnormal profit taking".

Quality audits from 2004 included allegations by family members of unsafe conditions and medical mistreatment of clients in residential homes run by Focus 2000.

Its chief executive Anne Murphy had contested the draft findings, saying the reports were "biased" and "completely untrue".

However, advocacy groups said there were similar problems with understaffing and poor quality care right across the sector.

Mr Hodgson said the revelations had surprised him.

"It was a bit different, $2.5 million does get one's attention, as do complaints about quality and safety," he told National Radio today.

However, after looking into the matter, he was now satisfied it had been dealt with appropriately.

The draft reports that prompted the outcry were leaked by either a Ministry of Health employee or an ex-employee, "in both cases disgruntled", he said.

It was "technical" differences in invoicing that accounted for the huge bill run up by Focus 2000.

For instance, if the ministry funded Focus 2000 to provide an hour's home-based care for a client, but the caregiver had finished the job in 50 minutes, the company had pocketed the difference.

However, the company's "extremely good record-keeping" enabled the misunderstanding to be cleared up and the money was repaid, he said.

Regarding quality of care, he said there had probably been "half a dozen to a dozen" complaints about Focus homes in the last five years.

"Officials now believe quality of care at Focus is no better and no worse than anywhere else in the country," he said.

On average, there were around 100 complaints a year about conditions in disabled care, he said.

Complaints were prioritised so that any allegations of violence or medical mistreatment were acted on immediately.

He conceded there was room for improvement but said he had faith in the auditing system.

"If there were no complaints at all, we wouldn't have an audit system -- we wouldn't need it."

However, he did not see any need for widescale change or an inquiry into conditions in the disabled care sector.

- NZPA