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A third rest home has been appointed a temporary manager by health authorities.
The Waitemata District Health Board has appointed a temporary manager to the Birkenhead Lodge on Auckland's North Shore.
The move comes after a temporary manager was installed at the Ranfurly Manor rest home in Fielding this week and at the Villa Gardens Home and Hospital in Christchurch earlier this week.
Last Wednesday a 60 year-old rest home cook appeared in the Auckland District Court, charged with assault. She is accused of putting tape over the mouth of a resident of Belhaven rest home in Auckland which has since been shut down.
Waitemata District Health Board spokeswoman Bryonny Hilless said the health board has concerns over the safety of the residents at the Birkenhead Lodge.
"We do have concerns over the management of the lodge and the care and treatment of the patients. It's not one particular resident or one particular issue," Ms Hilless said.
She declined to answer questions about what particular issues the health board had with the lodge.
The Lodge has space for 69 residents. At present 35 people live there.
Ms Hilless said the temporary manager, Rik Walstra, will help the owners of Birkenhead Lodge to "rectify concerns" raised by the health board.
She said Mr Walstra is a qualified gerontology nurse with significant resthome management experience.
He will remain in the position until the health board is satisfied that the necessary changes and improvements have been made.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
