Ministry details failings at rest home

Nurse Vaine Tangianau and patient Rebecca Arma face upheaval. Picture / Kenny Rodger

The closure plan served on a South Auckland rest home/hospital this week comes after the original spot-check found substandard infection control, signs that blood had dripped on to bags of frozen vegetables and that a staff member had had a serious criminal conviction.

The Ministry of Health on Monday revoked the certificate of the Culverden Group, which operates the Pasifika Centre and Hospital in Mangere, after a series of inspections since 2004.

In effect, the ministry is forcing the closure of the facility, which houses around 100 patients and residents, mostly elderly Pacific Islanders.

They will be shifted to other rest homes and hospitals unless the owners win a planned court injunction and appeal.

Directors Norma and Ian Anderson said on Monday that the ministry's decision was unfair and they intended to appeal against it. They have a month to file a district court appeal.

Staff members said the closure plan had upset patients and residents and none had expressed a wish to leave.

Patient Enid McLean, 91, said yesterday that she was horrified at the prospect of having to leave her home of 2 1/2 years and she could not understand the ministry's concerns.

She received "marvellous" care. "They do everything they can for me. I have no trouble at all."

She was unaware of the place ever smelling of urine - one of the ministry's complaints.

Although the owners say they have remedied problems identified in the 2004 inspection of what was then called Culverden Hospital, the ministry asserts not all have been fixed.

Problems recorded in its 2004 report ranged from clients not being properly assessed before admission, to filthy conditions.

"All areas demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy and maintenance was lacking," the report said.

Hazeldene, the unit for residents with dementia, was of particular concern - the building, furniture, fittings, ablution areas and general appearance were considered unsuitable for residential care of any kind.

An "alarming" number of areas did not have a call bell. In other areas the bells did not work or were not accessible to residents when in bed. Cleaning and infection control processes were well below accepted practice.

The then restraint co-ordinator claimed to be an experienced psychiatric nurse, although not currently practising, but a check with the Nursing Council found that this person had been removed permanently from the register as a result of a serious criminal conviction.

Two deaths, subsequently investigated by the police and the coroner, had not been reported as required - "The hospital manager was unaware of the requirements of this aspect of the legislation." Nothing suspicious was found regarding the deaths.

Registered nurse coverage equalled only 37 per cent of that required.

Pain management was inadequate for some clients. "One client was heard crying out in pain." A review of her progress notes, found beside her bed, noted she was "screaming and yelling" on a regular basis.

"A second client was noted to be in pain due to her arthritis but her medication had been discontinued upon entry to Culverden with a reference to cost."

Some medications were stored in the fridge with uncovered food.

Lunch on inspection day was not as per the menu and the hot food was cold. "In general, the kitchen was filthy."

Food was not properly covered, labelled or dated. "There were signs of blood having dripped on to bags of frozen vegetables." Food surfaces, trolleys and hand basins were dirty.

Laundry cleaning was poor and clean linen smelled of urine.

Culverden spokeswoman Glenda Hughes said yesterday the 2004 issues were fixed "or they wouldn't have got certification in December 2005".

But a deputy director-general of health, Colin Feek, said that although Culverden had made progress, it had failed to satisfy the ministry over many standards including infection control, medication and food.