Investigation of Patient Care at Cranford Hospice

Independent Investigation Into Patient Care at Cranford Hospice

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is initiating an independent investigation into the standard of patient care at Cranford Hospice following a recent complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner, Ron Patterson.

Planning and Funding acting general manager Ken Foote said the complaint was received by the DHB last week, and an independent clinical investigation into the allegations contained within it would now be carried out.

The audit would be managed by Central Region’s Technical Advisory Services Limited, who would set up a team of auditors, including independent palliative care experts, to investigate the complaint.

This would replace the planned three yearly routine audit which would now take place in the next financial year.

Mr Foote said the investigation into clinical care would begin as soon as the clinical experts were available.

The auditors were due to report back to the DHB by the beginning of April and a summary of their findings would be released to the public.

“The DHB has had a long relationship with Cranford and it is vitally important to us that Cranford offers the best end of life care. It has a very good record and we will continue to support it to ensure that standard of care continues.”

Mr Foote said the DHB would always fully investigate complaints it received but was unable to respond to rumour, speculation and innuendo without any factual basis.

ENDS

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