KEY POINTS:
Two elderly residents still at the Auckland rest home where a woman was gagged to keep her quiet will be moved on Friday, after the Government ordered the home to shut down.
A closing order for the Belhaven rest home was made yesterday by the Ministry of Health, while a cessation order has been issued to its nurse manager revoking her certification.
Eight residents have already been removed, after the Auckland District Health Board terminated the home's contract last week and an investigation was launched.
Ministry of Health quality and safety manager Rose Wall said results from the investigation showed various other problems, including basic hygiene and food safety.
"Our investigation showed that residents' rights had been breached and there were incidents of abuse. There were failures which provided an environment in which such incidents were able to occur." Ms Wall said it would be irresponsible to let the rest home continue to operate, with no practical means of rectifying the breaches.
"These people have a high level of need. Following reassessment of all patients, it was identified that three residents required hospital-level care. In the interests of public safety, we felt it necessary to take these steps."
Grey Power president Bob Buchanan acknowledged that the move to close Belhaven was a must, given the unsafe circumstances.
But he was disappointed to see the action came only after media had brought the problems to public attention, rather than the Auckland District Health Board finding them itself.
"When I first heard of the incident, I thought that it was a one-off. But a week-and-a-half later they're shutting it up, which means the place had other problems.
"How did they miss it? Perhaps they don't have regular inspections. They should've been on top of this - it's not good enough."
