Mother of disabled man wins full-time care appeal

The Court of Appeal has issued a stinging rebuke to health officials, saying it doesn't want to hear any more disputes about adequately funding parents who care for their disabled adult children. The judges say such cases shouldn't require court action and are urging the Ministry of Health to simplify access to disability support services. In a judgment issued yesterday, they describe the current policy as verging on "impenetrable". The court's decision involved Diane Moody, who is 76, and cares for her son Shane, who is 51. Her lawyer Paul Dale says more than 200 families have given up because they cannot understand the policy. The Ministry of Health says it's considering the Court of Appeal judgment and is making no further comment.