Photo / Warren BucklandBy Louise GouldA damning report has found an elderly patient was left helpless on the ground for seven minutes after a fall in a Hastings rest home and was shown "little compassion or empathy" by staff. The woman, then in her late 70s, was left on the floor for seven minutes, completely alone, while the assistant went to seek help. The woman's care plan noted that she was a high falls risk, unsteady on her feet and required two-person assistance when mobilising. "I decided to leave due to the continued level of short staffing, the unreasonable expectations on staff and because staff training was not a priority," she said. She also recommended the home review its staff training records, falls policy, and apologise to the woman and her family.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 17, 2020 02:48 UTC