The Health and Disability Commissioner has criticised a carer for hitting an elderly dementia patient in late 2013. An 82-year-old woman with dementia was bashed by a carer at a private Auckland hospital because she refused to go to bed, an inquiry has found. The elderly patient was punched, had her arms grabbed and was slapped on the thigh by the female carer in late 2013. The staff member, a healthcare assistant, lost her job as a result and has pleaded guilty to assault over the incident. She has been referred to the Director of Proceedings and could face further penalties, a decision by Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall found. The decision, released on Monday, ruled the healthcare assistant and the hospital, CHT Healthcare Trust, were both in breach of the code of patients rights.
