Unannounced follow up inspection of Rangipapa Forensic Acute Mental Health Unit, Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua

Excerpt

From 24 to 27 June 2024, a team of two Inspectors, who were delegated to carry out visits to places of detention on behalf of the Chief Ombudsman, made an unannounced four-day visit as part of the follow-up inspection of Rangipapa Forensic Acute Mental Health Unit (the Unit), Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua. Inspectors were guided by our Expectations for conditions and treatment of tāngata whai ora in health and disability places of detention.

The inspection was to follow up on the 15 recommendations made following the previous inspection conducted in 2020. Capital & Coast District Health Board (the DHB) accepted nine of these recommendations, partially accepted three, and rejected the other three.

Follow up inspections of Pūrehurehu and Tāwhirimātea Units at the Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua campus were also completed during June and July 2024.

During the previous inspection, the Unit was under the management of the DHB. DHBs have since been disestablished and replaced by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand). In this report, there are references to the DHB, as the responsible governing body at the time. However, new recommendations are made to Health New Zealand, as the responsible agency for the current inspection.  

Inspectors gathered and assessed a range of information. This included reviewing documents, interviewing a number of people, and observing facility activities. Before leaving the Unit, Inspectors met with Unit and some Service management to outline their initial observations.