Mid-Central DHBs Attack on Aged Care Unfounded

MidCentral DHBs Attack on Aged Care and Government Unfounded

The Mid-Central DHB’s unfounded attack on aged residential care and government auditing initiatives is not based on fact and has no validity, says the Aged Care Association.

For the DHB to make claims that there is supposedly a “systemic problem” throughout the country’s aged care sector suggests they are extrapolating their own failures and applying them nationwide, says NZACA chief executive Martin Taylor.

Mid-Central DHB, which is the funding provider of aged care in that region, would have to take the blame if there were a systemic problem within their region.

The acting Mid-Central CEO, Mike Grant’s media comments are designed to draw attention away from his DHB being one of the worst performing in New Zealand.

“At one level, these comments are designed to draw attention away from the DHB’s governance and management problems. It is one of the worst performing DHBs in the country and these problems have resulted in additional support being sent to support both the board and management,” Mr Taylor said.

“Mid-Central’s claims that there are clinical management problems in the aged care sector are based on a contractual interpretation which is not supported by 20 other DHBs. We note their clinical governance interpretation would mean Mike Grant wouldn't be allowed to manage an aged care facility, and if he applied it to DHB management positions he and others would be out of a job,” Mr Taylor added.

“Fortunately, this unique contractual interpretation will not be possible following this year’s contract review, so Mid Central will be forced to come in line with all other DHBs very soon” said Mr Taylor.

Mid Central also seems intent on attacking the Government’s existing position on certification and the recently implemented spot audit regime.

The new spot audit regime implemented by National is supported by the sector, the Ministry of Health and most DHBs.

“We find it surprising that MidCentral feels everyone is wrong and they are right considering they are public servants who are paid to carry out and support Government policy”, said Mr Taylor.

“There is no systemic problem with the quality of residential care in Mid-Central or the country at large. Instead there has been a systemic attack on the sector lead by unique contract interpretations, not supported anywhere else in the country, backed up by questionable auditing practices,” said Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor said that in the case of one rest home, a dispute arising from the DHB¹s approach to audit and the residential care contract had been the subject of a confidential settlement between the operators and Mid-Central DHB

ENDS

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