Independent assessment of O’Conor Home shows no concern

An independent audit has not identified any significant issues at Westport’s aged residential care facility O’Conor Home and in some categories the assessors felt the standard of care was ‘exemplary’.

In response to a range of concerns raised by members of the community about care provided at the O’Conor Home a special assessment was commissioned by the DHB to provide an independent audit of the management and quality of care provided at the facility, West Coast DHB Chief Executive David Meates says.

While regular auditing is undertaken of all rest home providers throughout the country, a special audit is requested when concerns have been raised that need to be looked into urgently and outside the routine audit process.

The review of O’Conor Home was undertaken in December by a team of specialists from TAS [Technical Advisory Service], an independent audit provider based in the North Island. TAS staff are involved in the review of a large number of aged care facilities throughout the country. The final audit report was received today and the West Coast DHB is making this report publicly available.

West Coast and Canterbury DHB geriatrician Dr Jackie Broadbent and Nursing Director Older People Kate Lopez say they are comfortable with the outcome of the report.

“The special and independent audit took a comprehensive approach, reviewing whether the care at O’Conor Home meets New Zealand requirements, as articulated in the ARRC contract and the HDSS standards. In general, O’Conor performed at or exceeded the stated requirements. A few areas of improvement, deemed low risk, were identified. This is usual for this type of audit, and will enable O’Conor to further refine the service they offer to the community. The report clearly demonstrates that the care of residents at O’Conor Home is in line with and at times exceeds expected standards, and reflects positively on both clinical care and organisational management.  It’s a good report,” they said.

Mr Meates said this report means residents and families can continue to have confidence in the standard of care offered by O’Conor Home.

“The minor matters which were raised are fairly standard for any spot audit.  O’Conor Home will be working through those now.

“Anyone can bring any issues with aged residential care directly to the DHB so we can make sure our older Coasters are being cared for appropriately.  With regard to these particular concerns, this is the end of the matter now,” he says.

The report is available to view here