Concerns about Dunedin's Wakari Hospital raised before human rights issues uncovered

District inspectors raised concerns about a Wakari Hospital ward in Dunedin, prior to the Chief Ombudsman uncovering potential human rights abuses, Health NZ says.

Chief Ombudsman inspectors who visited the hospital's inpatient unit for adults with intellectual disabilities in March said they observed some of the worst practices they had seen anywhere.

Health New Zealand plans to close the ward.

Director of mental health Dr John Crawshaw said the Health Ministry was taking the allegations made by the Chief Ombudsman and others very seriously.

"We clearly need to get to understand what has been going on and what is happening. That's why it's important that we're undertaking an independent investigation."

He said district inspectors had visited the facility more than the legal requirement of twice a year.

"They are required to report their concerns to the care manager responsible for individual care recipients. I do know that they have raised concerns.

"One of the issues that I am wanting the answer to through an independent investigation is precisely who saw what and what actions were taken."

But he would not confirm whether it would be appropriate for the district inspectors responsible for overseeing the hospital to conduct the investigation.

"That is part of the considerations we are going through at the moment.

"I don't think I should answer that question right at this point because it's almost asking me to pre-judge what might be undertaken as a result of the independent investigation."

The investigation was expected to take months.