Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Resthome fires staff following audit report

Updated at 7:19 pm on 11 December 2012

The owners of a Motueka resthome that was found to be treating patients poorly say several staff have since been sacked and its standards have improved.

The Woodlands resthome, which is owned by the Oceania group, has been in the spotlight after the District Health Board did a spot audit and was so alarmed by what it found that it brought in a temporary manager and notified the police.

The board criticised the home for sub-standard care, with a number of residents having untreated bed sores and bruises.

Oceania's chief executive, Geoff Hipkins, told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme the remaining staff have since been given training on how to handle and move elderly people.

Mr Hipkins said the company took the report very seriously and sent its senior staff to work temporarily in the home.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand