An investigation panel has found a Chung Hom Kok Cheshire Home resident's allegations on an April 8 radio programme about inhumane treatment he received in the home were not substantiated.

The Hospital Authority Hong Kong East Cluster appointed the panel, which reached its conclusion after a four-week investigation. It included a review of relevant documents, field visits and assessment, and interviews with the home's residents, management and staff members.

While the panel found the healthcare assistants' attitude generally good and that they served with care, it recommends they have ongoing training in techniques for manually handling severely disabled people.

The panel also confirmed a reasonable complaint-management system is in place, and the complaint had received a proper response and follow-up actions.

However, the panel suggested hospital management consider improvements to address the perception of conflict of roles and interests. Currently, a ward manager is also the patient-relation officer in complaint management.

The panel proposes enhancing the existing hot-water-supply system while providing additional wall-mounted heaters in the bathrooms in the interim.

The East Cluster and the home's hospital governing committee have accepted these recommendations. The cluster said today the complainant was discharged on May 15 to continue living in the community.