By Jane Luscombe
A Mangere rest home that has been dogged with serious problems for seven years, and is the subject of complaints to the Health and Disability Commissioner, is finally empty.
The last of South Auckland’s 65 Pacificare Blue Dove rest home residents left yesterday, despite a last minute attempt by broadcaster and businessman Willie Jackson to save it.
The only staff that remain are those collecting medical records and making sure all drugs have been removed from the premises.
Mr Jackson had hoped to save the home, specifically run for Pacific Islanders.
Plans by his organisation, the Manukau Urban Maori Authority, to put in a bid were abandoned when they were discouraged by owner Guardian Trust, Mr Jackson says.
In turn, Guardian Trust say it was never their job to recommend a new provider.
Mr Jackson is placing the greatest blame on the Manukau District Health Board, who he says failed to find a way to keep Pacificare Home going.
“I don’t think they were monumental problems where the whole place had to go. I think it’s sad. The mainstreaming of services is a strategy that the DHB wants to go down,” he says.
The DHB say they are disappointed Pacificare had to shut, but there have been serious problems in the home for seven years – four of which they have spent trying to help.
There have been several recent complaints from families of Pacificare residents, which are being investigated by the Health and Disabilities Commissioner.
“The residents are no longer there receiving the sub-standard level of care they were,” says Sam Cliffe of the Counties Manukau DHB
“We’re disappointed we couldn’t end up with a situation where they ended up with a better provider.”
An audit last year listed a string of concerns about the home, including the use of restraints, poor management of medication and terrible food.
For some residents Pacificare has been their home for several years and a number of them don’t want to leave.
Relatives however told the health board they could not get their loved ones out fast enough.
3 News