70 percent of sexual abuse counselling claims declined by ACC in six month period

A press release from the Labour Party by Lynne Pillay

Nearly 800 people seeking counselling services to deal with sexual abuse were declined ACC assistance in just six months last year, Labour’s Victims Rights spokesperson Lynne Pillay says.
“Out of the 1026 people nationally who had their ACC claim for sexual abuse counselling processed between July and November last year just 331 people had their claims accepted while 795 (70 percent of the processed claims) had their claims declined.
“During that same period a further 941 decisions were pending,” Lynne Pillay said.
“Do we really want to be a country that won’t help people who have suffered through sexual abuse?
“The Government has turned their backs on survivors of sexual abuse with their cutbacks to services and the shoddy and shambolic approach they have taken to new guidelines.
“ACC Minister Nick Smith has repeatedly claimed that the changes to ACC sensitive claims are the result of clinical guidelines recommended by Massey University, but I note the University has publicly stated this is simply not the case.
“Nick Smith has said he will hold a review of sexual abuse counselling changes after six months. But in the meantime victims of horrendous sexual crimes are being forced to endure a cruel experiment in cut backs to counselling.
“People who have survived sexual abuse need support, but instead they are getting the bureaucratic run around from the National Government,” Lynne Pillay said.

http://www.labour.org.nz/news/70-percent-sexual-abuse-counselling-claims-declined-acc-six-month-period