Porirua abuse allegations

Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 21:34

MOH won't intervene

The Ministry of Health says it won't intervene in investigations into allegations of abuse at a secure Porirua Mental Health Unit.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board says there have been two cases of alleged assault on patients by staff members this year and three people have been dismissed as a result.
Advocates for the patients say they are subject to ongoing physical and emotional abuse, but the Ministry of Health says it's not worried about the safety of the patients.
It says it will only intervene if it has concerns about ongoing failures.
One assault is being investigated by the police.



Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 10:03

Earlier case of assault at Porirua with police

The Capital and Coast District Health Board has confirmed a second case of alleged assault on a patient at its secure unit for intellectually disabled patients in Porirua.
The board is currently investigating an allegation of assault on a patient by a staff member at the unit - known as Haumietiketike.
An employee has been suspended over that incident which is alleged to have happened on Easter Sunday.
A spokesperson for the board says an earlier alleged assault on a male patient at the unit in February saw two staff members suspended and then fired following an internal inquiry.
The matter has now been referred to police for investigation, and the board spokesperson says there are no other matters of this sort under investigation




Radio NZ
April 20 2007; 05:12

Questions over adequacy of training for union staff

The union for staff members alleged to have assaulted patients at a mental health unit says the adequacy of staff training is in question.
The police are investigating one alleged assault on a patient by staff at a secure mental health unit in Porirua, and Capital and Coast District Health Board is investigating another.
Two staff members have been dismissed and one has been suspended from the Haumietiketike (hau-mia-tike-tike) unit - a facility for intellectually disabled people whose behaviour poses a serious risk to themselves or others.
The Public Service Association says it is in discussions with the unit to see what improvements can be made in staff training.
Richard Wagstaff from the PSA says the allegations involve casual care support staff, not nurses




The Dominion Post
April 20 2007

Staff sacked after 'assaults' on patients
by Rebecca Palmer

Two staff have been fired and a third suspended after two alleged assaults on intellectually disabled patients in a secure unit.
Police are investigating one of the alleged assaults at the Haumietiketike secure unit in Porirua. Capital and Coast District Health Board is still doing its own investigation into the second.
The board's director of forensic, rehabilitation and intellectual disability services Nigel Fairley said Capital and Coast was "greatly dismayed" by the two incidents.
Haumietiketike is a secure unit for intellectually disabled people who have been involved with the courts and have behaviour that poses a serious risk to themselves or others. It opened in 2004.
Mr Fairley said two staff members were immediately suspended after allegedly assaulting a male patient in February. They were later dismissed ter an internal investigation. The matter was also referred to police.
"This was a deeply regrettable incident and we have apologised to this patient."
Constable James Wichington, of Porirua CIB, confirmed police were investigating a complaint. "We're still continuing initial inquiries."
Mr Fairley said that in the past two weeks, Capital and Coast had received another complaint about a different patient being assaulted. "This staff member was immediately suspended and the incident is under investigation."
The health board could not comment further till the investigation was complete. It is understood the patients suffered minor injuries.
The 11-bed unit, on the grounds of the former Porirua Hospital, takes intellectually disabled patients from the South Island and lower North Island. Eight other beds are in two "step-down cottages" next to the unit.




Radio NZ
April 19 2007; 15:15

Lawyer concerned about double standards

A Wellington lawyer says a case of alleged assault on a patient at a mental health unit, raises concerns about double standards for the rights of patients and staff.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board is investigating the incident at the Porirua Mental Health Unit and has suspended the staff member.
The DHB says once its investigation is complete, it will decide whether to lay a formal complaint with police.
The police are waiting for this, before taking any action.
But an advocate for the patients says this is not a one-off incident.
Wellington lawyer Michael Bott, who represents a witness to the alleged assault, says there should be a formal procedure for a patient to lay a complaint



Radio NZ
April 19 2007; 11:55

Mental health worker accused of assaulting patient

A staff member at a Wellington mental health unit has been suspended after allegedly assaulting a patient.
The incident happened at Porirua Mental Hospital's Haumietiketike unit - a facility for intellectually disabled people whose behaviour poses a serious risk to themselves or others.
A spokesperson for a disabled patient who saw the incident claims the victim was repeatedly punched by the staff member, drawing blood.
Colin Burgering, says after the witness made a statement about the incident, senior staff allegedly tried to make him change his mind about what he saw.
Capital and Coast DHB spokesperson Nigel Fairley says it has received an allegation of assault by a staff member on a male patient.
He says the staff member was immediately stood down and the allegation is being investigated.
He says the DHB is greatly dismayed by the incident.