Deteriorating resident’s care not escalated in a timely manner - 21HDC02320

In a decision released today, deputy health and disability commissioner Carolyn Cooper has found Kauri Lodge breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) by failing to provide adequate care to one of its residents who had suffered a stroke.

Despite the woman's family raising concerns, staff at Kauri Lodge treated her with antidepressants, believing she was depressed. She later died following deteriorating health. A doctor caring for the woman, aged in her late sixties at the time, has also received adverse comment from Ms Cooper.