Breach of Health & Disability code…

A Health & Disability Commissioner report has found a breach of patient rights, and recommended the Nursing Council review the competence of a Manager at a rest home, after poor practices resulted in a resident being hospitalised.

The resident had complex care needs and was placed into the rest home to receive hospital level care. However, his condition worsened and eventually he was admitted to a hospital.

On investigation it was found that his care plan showed limited entries by nurses over the period and did not record sufficient details in his care plan.

The Commissioner held that the rest home and its Manager both breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights.

Every consumer has the right to have services provided with reasonable care and skill. The Manager failed to provide oversight and ensure documentation was being properly filled out. The home failed to provide an environment that supported staff to give the required care.

The Commissioner recommended that the Nursing Council review the competence of the Manager, and that the rest home provide training to its staff on documentation, care planning, assessment and monitoring of deteriorating patients.

Residents in rest homes are entitled to a reasonable standard of care under the Code. If you are concerned that a rest home is falling short of this standard, it is wise to speak with a professional experienced in the area.




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Alan Knowsley
Medical Lawyer
Wellington