Advocates horrified by report of human rights abuse at Wakari Hospital

Patient advocates are horrified at revelations of potential human rights abuses at Dunedin's Wakari Hospital.

Inspectors for the chief ombudsman said they found treatment amounting to torture at the inpatient unit for adults with intellectual disabilities.

They found people were being rewarded for good behaviour with access to basic necessities, including the toilet, prolonged restraints and long-term seclusion. One person was secluded in their bedroom for about 18 months.

Health New Zealand has said it will close Ward 10A as a result.

Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Malcolm Mulholland said such practices were meant to be left behind 50 years ago.

"I thought that it was barbaric, what was happening to patients - patients who are being treated for having an intellectual disability, not for war crimes. The ombudsman suggesting that these practices amounted to torture, I thought [was] pretty spot on."

Mulholland said the findings called to mind historic abuse in psychiatric hospitals, like those uncovered at Lake Alice in the 1970s.

"Nobody in their right mind thought that those types of practices were in existence today and so I just hope that the authorities undertake a wider look at all psychiatric facilities in New Zealand to ensure that this is not happening to our most vulnerable."

Health New Zealand said a national review of forensic intellectual disability services would be undertaken, and has moved to shut down the ward and relocate patients.

Disability rights lawyer Huhana Hickey called for an overhaul of the disability system.

She said patients' families would be devastated by the revelations, but were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Successive governments over decades have done nothing to find that solution, particularly for our young males who are very autistic, intellectually disabled and have behavioural issues. There is nothing for them."

Hickey said seclusion and restraint must be an exception rather than accepted practice.

However, she said hospitals and institutions were not the answer for people with intellectual disabilities. Instead, she wanted to see "home-like" situations for them, with around-the-clock staffing and experts on hand.

She said the coercive and punitive practices described by inspectors would not help patients.

"You're actually hurting them and that is severe torture to someone whose mind can't comprehend that type of punishment."

The Ministry of Health has confirmed it will investigate.

Minister expects HNZ to 'act with urgency'

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey is urging Health New Zealand to ensure that human rights abuses are not happening anywhere else.

In a statement, Doocey said the Ombudsman's findings were particularly concerning because they identified issues that had been raised repeatedly over a number of years, including an OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) inspection in May 2021, which identified significant concerns about the ward's physical environment, patient safety, and staff safety.

"I expect Health New Zealand to urgently address the issues that have been identified, not just at Wakari but nationally.

"If similar improvements are needed elsewhere in the country, I expect Health New Zealand to act with urgency."

While Doocey welcomed the clinical decision made by Health New Zealand to close the ward, he said it had not considered any other option. Doocey said he sought assurance that this was the right decision for the safety of patients and staff when he met with senior officials from Health New Zealand, as well as the Ministry of Health, on Thursday.

"I have been assured that it is."

He had made it clear to Health New Zealand that patients, families, and staff must be kept fully informed throughout the process.

"No one should be left uncertain about what is happening or where care will be provided.

"I have also directed Health New Zealand to move with urgency to identify alternative placements for patients in Ward 10A and to ensure the patients affected by the closure continue to receive the care they need in a safe and appropriate environment for them."