-
Source: ONE News -
Related
Ron Paterson has used one of his final reports as Health and Disability Commissioner to hit out at inadequate rest home care.
Paterson, who stepped down in March after a decade in the role, noted in a report issued today that some rest homes had "a disturbing culture of non-compliance with clear internal policies and procedures".
The report found an Upper Hutt rest home failed to adequately care for a frail and vulnerable 85-year-old woman, who died of dehydration after her condition deteriorated over the course of a week.
The woman had been discharged from a public hospital where she had been treated for a fall and pneumonia in mid-2008.
She was placed in the care of the Summerset Rest Home and Hospital in the Upper Hutt suburb of Trentham.
A discharge summary given to the home's nurse manager noted that the woman's hydration should be closely monitored, and that a litre of fluid should be given by drip should her daily fluid intake drop below 800ml by 7pm.
The nurse manager began a hydration chart for the woman, which staff were required to fill out daily.
However, they did not adequately record her fluid intake, and did not administer a drip despite her recorded daily intake exceeding 800ml only once.
The woman began coughing up blood-tinged sputum and her condition deteriorated rapidly a week after she was taken into the home's care.
She was transferred to a public hospital later that evening and died several days later of dehydration and respiratory problems.
Paterson said documentation had been inadequate and staff failed to provide an adequate standard of care.
"I note that a disturbing culture of non-compliance with clear internal policies and procedures is evidenced in several recent Health and Disability Commissioner's reports involving various rest homes," Paterson said.
"Care plans, policies and other documentation should not be generated solely to fulfil auditing requirements. They should form the basis of regular care and ongoing staff training.
"Through its failure to adequately educate and supervise its staff, Summerset Trentham failed to care properly for (the woman) when she was at her most vulnerable."
Staff also failed to contact the woman's daughter in a timely manner after her health deteriorated, which breached the right to informed consent.
The nurse manager also breached patients' rights through "her own failings and those of her staff".
Paterson recommended the rest home undertake staff training in obtaining informed consent, and the nurse manager apologise to the woman's daughter.
