MDHB carries out audit of rest home

17/11/2009 | MDHB carries out audit of rest home

MidCentral District Health Board has instigated an immediate quality audit of the Rose A Lea Rest Home in Palmerston North after complaints on the restraint and care of a resident.

The three-day issues-based audit, which began on Friday, November 13, will also investigate concerns about insufficient staff training, lack of Registered Nurse supervision and hygiene issues.

The Rose A Lea Rest Home in Botanical Road, owned and operated by Joyce and Bryan Wenmoth, is contracted by MDHB to provide 25 rest home level care beds.

The facility currently has 13 residents who, as well as their families, have been notified of the audit and given assurance of continued access to rest home care.

Rest home level care is a long-term residential care service and requires income and asset testing as part of qualifying for DHB-funded care. Rose A Lea was audited under the HealthCert Audit process in March this year.

General Manager, Funding Division, Mike Grant, said MDHB took such complaints “very seriously” and was committed to ensuring a high standard of care for residents of aged residential care facilities.

A four-member Central Technical Advisory Service (TAS) team had been assembled to undertake an audit of the rest home’s clinical, financial management, governance, staff management and facility systems.

Mr Grant said the first priority for the DHB during the audit was to ensure that residents’ health and safety was safeguarded and there was minimal disruption for them, their families and staff.

“Patients may also be transferred to a more appropriate arrangement in the interim and the DHB will work to ensure a smooth and appropriate transition. The DHB will be progressing discussions with the proprietor in regard to Rimu Lodge,” he said.

The DHB has appointed a temporary manager to provide oversight from Tuesday 17 November 2009.