Scabies outbreaks, poor staffing and limited shower use are among the complaints about a Rangiora rest home received by the Canterbury District Health Board.

In July, the health board appointed a temporary manager to take control of the Wiltshire Lifecare Home and Hospital after receiving complaints since 2010.

An independent health audit was done at the complex in response to complaints, and registered nurse Gillian Robinson was appointed as temporary manager.

The board would not say what the complaints related to and would not confirm or deny allegations made by relatives of residents and staff members to The Press.

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show there have been 11 complaints since December 2010. The board treated eight of the complaints as formal and the other three were received by people who wanted to remain anonymous.

Board corporate services general manager Murray Dickson said the main themes of the 11 complaints were:

- Standards of care, including hydration, skin care and management of scabies.

- The amount of food and fluids provided to residents.

Concerns about staffing levels, training and morale.

- Lack of equipment and a shortages of things such as incontinence pads.

- Residents' personal items going missing.

- Concerns about the smell of urine in the facility.

- Facility rules such as requiring residents to go to bed very early or limits on the frequency of showers allowed.

The Press requested copies of correspondence between the board and Wiltshire but this was declined because it contained personal information.

Correspondence between Robinson and the board was also declined.

Dickson said a summary report of the audit would be released next week.

"[This] will reflect the areas of concern identified in the report and the steps that Wiltshire will be required to take to deal with those matters," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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