A Christchurch home for the intellectually disabled is defending its services after a Canterbury doctor quit, saying he had worries for his own safety and for residents.
Peter Wilkinson, who is a GP at Templeton Medical Centre, had been working at Brackenridge Estate since 2000 but says the environment has changed markedly in that time.
In Dr Wilkinson's letter of resignation, which has been provided to Radio New Zealand News, he says he is disturbed by the reduction in staffing and cost-cutting.
Dr Wilkinson says such measures expose carers to inadequate training and insufficient support from registered nurses.
He says he felt his ability to properly treat patients was at risk in such an environment.
Three recent deaths of residents from pneumonia added to his reservations about working at Brackenridge. Dr Wilkinson says while those deaths may not have been preventable, the estate could have taken more action before the residents went into hospital care.
"I perhaps look upon myself as now being vulnerable with the change of carer environment on the estate," he says.
The Brackenridge board says it is taking Dr Wilkinson's comments very seriously, step by step, and will hire an independent investigator.
But its chair, Jane Cartwright, also rejects several of Dr Wilkinson's claims, including that it is cutting costs.
Dr Wilkinson says the tipping point for his resignation was not being paid for his July account in time.
Brackenridge is a subsidiary of the Canterbury District Health Board.
