A Northland rest home faces prosecution following damning reports about the care of its patients.
The Health and Disability Commissioner today released reports on the care received by two patients at Dargaville's Norfolk Court Rest Home, and said the home had breached the rights of the patients by appointing staff with inadequate skill.
In the first case, a 73-year-old Altzheimer sufferer's family complained about the care he received during a month-long stay in the home's secure dementia unit from December 16, 2008.
The man's condition deteriorated during his stay and he became increasingly drowsy, incontinent, unsteady on his feet, and suffered five falls.
He was admitted to hospital and a scan of his head found two significant subdural haematomas on his brain. He was treated palliatively and died a short time later.
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rae Lamb found the home's registered nurse had failed to provide services with reasonable care and skill.
Her initial care planning, and her response once the man's condition began to deteriorate was inadequate, Ms Lamb said.
A copy of the report was ordered to be sent to the Nursing Council to consider whether the nurse's competence be reviewed.
In a second case at the home, an 82-year-old woman suffered four falls over 14 months from December, 2008.
The registered nurse examined the woman following her final fall, but detected no serious injuries.
A doctor, called in at the family's insistence, also found no serious injuries and the woman continued to be encouraged to walk despite being in a lot of pain.
Five days later her ankle was noted to be swollen and she was taken to the local medical centre where x-rays found she had a fractured right ankle as well as a fractured right hip, which appeared to have occurred several weeks earlier.
During the commissioner's investigation, concerns were also raised about how the home had managed the woman's pre-existing chronic back and chest pain.
Ms Lamb found the nurse had failed to provide adequate follow-up care after the woman's falls, and had taken insufficient steps to reduce the risk of further falls.
She was also found to have provided inadequate care in the assessment and management of the woman's ongoing back and chest pain.
Ms Lamb instructed a copy of her report be sent to the Nursing Council with a recommendation that it consider whether a review of the nurse's competence was warranted.
In the case of both patients, Ms Lamb said the home had breached standards by appointing staff with insufficient skill and experience, and not providing adequate support to ensure safe practice.
The home's manager was found to have breached standards in both cases by failing to appropriately oversee the delivery of services and to support staff adequately.
The home was referred to the Director of Proceedings to decide whether it would be prosecuted.
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