Hodgson changes mind on Focus 2000

Health Minister Pete Hodgson has done a u-turn on the Cerebral Palsy Society's care of disabled people, saying new complaints warrant further investigation.

Last week it was revealed that Focus 2000 - the business arm of the society which is one of Auckland's largest disabled care providers - had been forced to repay money after ministry audits.

The audits from 2004 included allegations of unsafe conditions and medical mistreatment in residential homes run by Focus 2000.

Mr Hodgson blamed disgruntled people for leaking reports on misunderstandings that had been cleared up.

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

But in Parliament yesterday, Mr Hodgson said new information had come to light forcing him to change his position.

"I meant what I said [on Friday]. However, within an hour of making that statement ... new information was provided to me and officials that changed our views significantly.

"I can no longer express satisfaction with the care provided by Focus 2000 and have directed officials to meet with Focus this week to begin investigating a number of potentially serious allegations."

National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall wondered what could be so serious to Mr Hodgson to change his position.

Mr Hodgson refused to say what the nature of the latest allegations or their source was, saying it was "not in the national interest" to do so.

Outside Parliament, Mr Hodgson said the latest concerns related to new complaints that were serious but not a matter of "life and limb".

Last week, it was revealed that the society had been forced to repay $2.5 million for 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.

Focus 2000 chief executive Anne Murphy had contested the draft findings, saying the reports were "biased" and "completely untrue".

- NZPA