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

Health and Disability Commissioner
99. On 5 September, Ms P referred Ms A for an inpatient detox. 21 Ms P also spoke with
RN N and Ms A. Ms A was reported to be very unwell emotionally, owing to the
ongoing stressful situation in relation to her living conditions and the lack of PPPR
Act documentation. She was assessed as having a greater risk of harm to herself or
others than had been the case previously. Ms P gave Ms A contact details for the
Mental Health Crisis Service in the event that she needed assistance over the
weekend, and she informed the service about Ms A.
100. The following week, Ms A was reported to be more settled, and the level of risk was
identified as low.
101. On 15 September, Dr Q outlined the situation to the CADS clinical director. The
clinical director noted that CADS had done more than fulfil its role, and that it was
not CADS’ role to sort out the legal status/placement if residential rehabilitation did
not work out. The clinical director indicated that this would need to be handed back to
the GP. Dr Q discussed this with Dr J and followed up with a letter, in which she
updated Dr J on CADS’ recent input and intended future involvement. Dr Q asked Dr
J to liaise with the advocate and whether he could access social work support to assist
with placement issues. On 23 September, Dr J contacted a social worker and was
advised to contact the Health and Disability Advocacy Service if Ms A had a
complaint about the way in which she had been treated.
102. On 16 September, Ms A went to a CADS group meeting. After returning to Oak Park,
a half-empty bottle of vodka was found in Ms A’s room, and staff noted that she had
been verbally aggressive.
103. On 23 September, the rest home manager went to meet Ms A at Oak Park, but Ms A
did not know she was coming and had gone to a meeting at CADS.
30 September–1 October
104. On 30 September, Ms M found Ms A in her room with two-thirds of a bottle of
vodka. Later that evening, a staff member reported that Ms A had been physically
aggressive towards her, pulling her hair, pulling her uniform and pushing her. Ms A
denied this.
105. The following morning, RN N left a message for Ms P advising that they were no
longer able to accommodate Ms A. RN N also contacted Ms O, who advised that the
rest home had accepted Ms A and that staff would be coming to pick her up the
following day. However, later that morning, Ms N was advised by the rest home that
it was not able to accept Ms A as it did not consider it would be able to meet her
needs.
106. Ms P contacted the Community Home Detox Service to ask about a possible inpatient
admission. She then spoke with the Oak Park general manager who stated that in view
21 This is an inpatient unit with 24-hour medical supervision for people who need a safe place to stop
drinking or using drugs.
18 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.