Mrs Bremner said yesterday, when contacted by the Otago Daily Times, the November accident occurred because the wrong hoist was being used, contrary to instructions issued after Mrs May fell while being lifted by a different caregiver in July last year.
Mrs May's accident was at the "different end of the spectrum" to the reported incident at Belhaven Rest Home in Auckland, where a caregiver allegedly taped shut the mouth of an elderly woman.
Mrs Bremner was disappointed Mrs May's family had given the media copies of confidential documentation about Mrs May's accidents, collected during a Department of Labour occupational health and safety investigation.
The department has decided not to prosecute. Mrs Bremner said the accidents suffered by Mrs May were not a reflection of the standard of care in St Andrews.
Instead, they were a reflection of the frail, elderly patients in care.
Presbyterian Support Otago had put systems in place and was making sure staff followed them and received training.
Caregivers at St Andrews had "the best will in the world and were incredibly responsive to the needs of patients".
Mrs Bremner confirmed Mrs May's primary caregiver had resigned.
He had used a standing hoist (a large piece of equipment designed to lift a person who is already in a sitting position and can bear weight on their feet) rather than a sling hoist (which lifts patients from a lying position and is best used when people cannot bear weight on their feet).
She declined to say whether the primary caregiver had been disciplined following Mrs May's November accident, but said there had been an internal investigation into the accident and broader issues.
Written warnings were given to staff members where procedures and patient care plans were not followed.
Mrs Bremner said it was important lifting accidents did not happen again.
The July 2007 accident was caused by an "unheralded" medical event and involved a different staff member, who no longer works at St Andrews.
Presbyterian Support Otago was conducting a follow-up audit of procedures put in place after that accident and putting together a report for Mrs May's family.
Mrs Bremner declined to comment on the family's call for compensation.
