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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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Two staff members have been sacked
from a Porirua based mental health unit after they allegedly assaulted a
patient. The Capital & Coast District
Health Board has also suspended a third member of staff for an alleged attack
on another patient at the Haumietiketike secure unit over Easter. The health board is conducting an
internal inquiry, but some say the police should be involved. "I think that it's offensive
to justice and it's treating these people as second rate citizens," said
human rights lawyer Michael Bott. The unit houses up to a dozen
intellectually disabled people who have been before the courts. "We're talking about people
who have been placed under court orders and who are with an organisation that
is charged in law with their rehabilitation, so it's quite proper that there
is an internal investigation around that," said Ministry of Health
Advisor Lester Mundell. The ministry says it still has
confidence in its management. "This new unit has been
specially constructed and has been operating now for about three years.
During that time there have been a small number of incidents reported, so I
don't regard it as a systemic issue at all," said Mundell. Police say they are investigating
the first incident, but are waiting on the health board's internal review before
considering any action over the latest allegation. No-one from The Capital &
Coast District Health Board would appear on camera. However, it says it has
apologised to the victim of one of the alleged assaults and is keeping the
other patient informed about the internal inquiry into the second incident.
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