'That mixture should not happen': Ombudsman issues scathing report on psychiatric ward
A scathing report has slammed an inpatient unit at Dunedin's Wakari Hospital that housed male and female patients together, including some who posed a serious risk to others.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's report on Ward 10A noted the12-bed medium-secure facility was not fit for purpose, was in critical need for an upgrade, and was creating a “volatile environment”.
He noted the ward housed people of both sexes with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health issues.
That dynamic was compounded by some on the ward with criminal convictions, who posed a serious risk to others.
“That mixture should not happen. It is not accepted as acceptable practice ... you just don't do it," he said.
Boshier said he had never before seen a “mixture of what I would call criminal forensic and civilians who are there simply because they are unfortunately – and sadly mentally – unwell”. “I just don’t think it is fair.”
Staff told Boshier's inspectors that due to the complexity of the ward's patient mix and its layout, it applied restrictive practices to all patients, irrespective of their legal status or risk.
“I consider it unacceptable that non-forensic patients are subjected to restrictive practices simply due to being accommodated with forensic patients,” Boshier wrote in the 52-page report.
The report noted several patients had been in the ward long-term, including one who had spent 5316 days there.
The environment was described by a staff member as a “disgrace”, and Boshier believed staff and patient safety was compromised.
“I had never encountered that degree of directness by staff before ... I’ve not seen a facility operated in this way in all the inspection reports that we’ve done,” Boshier said.
He cited the case as another example of how the Ministry of Health had failed in its responsibility to ensure that investment in facilities met the needs of the community.
Boshier also highlighted issues with seclusion and restraint inside 10A, including a patient who was barricaded in their room and another who had a N95 face mask placed on them while being restrained, to stop them from spitting.
The ombudsman's report noted some positive aspects of the ward, including patients being able to lock their bedroom and bathroom doors.
The Southern District Health Board (DHB) said it understood the “need to address the co-habitation of forensic patients with non-forensic patients in Ward 10a, the restrictive practices placed upon non-forensic patients living in this environment and the gender separation of service users”.
Another report on Ward 6C, a12-bed secure mental health/psychogeriatric ward for older persons, noted that patients' access to fresh air and sunlight was also restricted.
One patient said they had been outside twice in the five weeks they had been there.
Inspectors made unannounced site visits at the sites between March and June last year, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989.
Health Minister Andrew Little said he was yet to read the report, but was aware of it.
The Government committed funding, back in 2019, to build and improve mental health facilities, he said.
In June, just 6 per cent of the $438.3 million allocated to new mental health facilities had been spent.
Little said the new Dunedin Hospital, which was due to be completed in 2028, should also improve mental healthcare in the region.
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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40.4% Yes
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34.1% Maybe?
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25.5% No
Police urge caution on Southland beaches
As the weather warms up and Southlanders begin flocking to the beach, Police are reminding people of an important fact – beaches are roads and need to be treated as such.
Senior Sergeant Scott MacKenzie, Southland Area Road Policing Manager, says while it is legal to drive on Oreti Beach, you still need to adhere to the road rules.
“The beach has a speed limit of 30k/h – there is no excuse to be over this limit.
The days are getting warmer and with school holidays it can be expected that a lot of families with small children and animals will be heading to the beach to enjoy the sun."
“Anyone driving on the beach needs to be mindful of this, and stay focused on your surroundings,” he says.
The risks of injury or worse, to yourself or others, are just the same as on traditional roads.
Senior Sergeant MacKenzie also reminds beach goers that any form of antisocial road-user behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Some people seem to think that road rules don’t apply to you when on the beach – this is not the case.
Antisocial driving behaviour is unacceptable, on and off the beach, and we encourage the community to report the driving behaviour immediately."
“It is best to make a report while the incident is occurring to allow our staff the opportunity to respond immediately and hopefully disrupt any offenders in the act.
Please take note of as much detail as possible, such as registration number of the vehicle, any identifying features of the vehicle and its driver, or even take a video of the driving behaviour if safe to do so,” he says.
You can report information to us by calling 111 if it is happening now, or through 105 for non-emergencies.
Alternatively, you can report information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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