Abuse in care: statement from Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission Board

Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality and Safety Commission (Te Tāhū Hauora) will do whatever it can to ensure the abuse that prompted the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care never happens again.

In welcoming today’s apology to victims from the Prime Minister, the Board of Te Tāhū Hauora expressed deep regret for the harm caused to those in care and the unacceptable delay in justice for the survivors.

The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Whanaketia, is a tragic reminder of the need to listen to, and act on, the voices of consumers said board chair Rae Lamb.

“These were people at their most vulnerable, who should have received the best of care. Instead they received the opposite. We add our voice to those who have already expressed their sadness and concern at what happened, and how it was able to continue.

“Established in 2011, Te Tāhū Hauora has an important independent role in supporting improvements to the quality and safety of health services and ensuring that the views and voices of consumers are recognised and understood across the health system. As Whanaketia starkly illustrates, the consumer voice went unheard across many settings, for many years. These people were failed by not just one, but multiple systems, and for so long nobody heard them.

“In light of the findings of Whanaketia it is our view that recognising the importance of consumer input, from the top down and the bottom up, is crucial to ensuring we never see a repeat of what happened within our care system over recent decades” said Ms Lamb.

Te Tāhū Hauora has reviewed the recommendations made in Whanaketia.  We will be engaging with our partners across the health and disability sector to ensure we can contribute and provide leadership on the changes that are needed. We will also be reviewing our organisational mandate to establish where there are opportunities for engaging early to identify issues within the health sector.

“Te Tāhū Hauora will continue to ensure that quality and safety across the health and disability system is monitored, that consumer voices are prioritised in our efforts to improve the system, and that poor practice is quickly identified and addressed.”