Auckland District Health Board Taikura Trust Aranui Home and ...

Health and Disability Commissioner
46. On 21 August, Taikura Trust Chief Executive Officer Ms G emailed the referral for
Ms A to the IFP National Reviewer, recommending that IFP funding be agreed. She
noted:
―I want to undertake a thorough assessment process involving mental health and
given our experience over the last week or so this will take some time. We need
to stabilise her in an environment where we can do that, hence my
recommendation.‖
47. On 22 August, ACH social worker Ms S wrote in the clinical notes that she had been
advised by Taikura Trust team leader Ms I that funding had been approved for a rest
home (secure unit) through the IFP. Ms S wrote: ―As pt [patient] would need funding
for long term care [Ms I] has suggested that pt could be transferred to Aranui Home.‖
Ms S contacted the clinical co-ordinator at Aranui, and was advised that they had a
bed in their rest home (secure unit), and that they would be happy for her to be
transferred the following day. Ms S informed Ms A’s mother. There is no record that
Ms A was informed.
48. An entry in the nursing notes later that evening states:
―Pt looks sad — re — discharge thinks she is going to her mum.‖
49. And the next day:
―Angry mood this morning. Not wanting to go now!!! Different stories about
her destination.
…
Pt for discharge today. Phoned Aranui R/H, talked to SN [Ms N]. [Ms A] now
going to Oak Park R/H (secure unit) ...‖
50. Ms A was discharged to Oak Park Dementia Unit (Oak Park) that day. Staff at Oak
Park recall that social workers and nurses from Auckland Hospital visited Oak Park
before Ms A was placed there, but there is no record of this.
51. The discharge summary stated: ―Placement for [Ms A] was problematic. [Dr R],
consultant physician, and liaison psychiatry service both agreed that she was
incompetent and would require [a] secure unit. Despite this, funding for her placement
had been difficult leading to prolonged hospital stay. She was medically cleared for
discharge at mid June. However, [an] interim placement was only found in late
August.‖ The outstanding issues were also noted:
―1. heavy drinking, please monitor
2. short term memory loss
3. urinary incontinence‖
10 3 November 2010
Names have been removed (except Auckland DHB, Taikura Trust, Aranui Home and Hospital/Oak
Park Dementia Unit and the expert who advised on this case) to protect privacy. Identifying letters are
assigned in alphabetical order and bear no relationship to the person’s actual name.