Suicide danger in ACC delay: expert

An article from the Waikato Times by Maryanne Twentyman

A Waikato survivor of sexual abuse has been waiting seven months for ACC to determine whether he is eligible for counselling, a time frame which could have resulted in suicide, according to a Hamilton expert.
The man was recently told that his psychologist was now waiting for confirmation from ACC as to what should be written into his report, according to Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Waikato manager Mike Holloway.
"When the man contacted ACC to see what the hold-up was he was told his paperwork had been `misplaced' which isn't uncommon," Mr Holloway said.
The situation was last week inflamed when information was released about an independent ACC report that referred to "draining the swamp" in cutting back services.
The report, obtained under the the Official Information Act by Labour acting ACC spokesperson Maryan Street, said ACC had "gone too far towards customer focus" and needed to begin "tightening the gateway by reducing the level and costs of treatment provided".
"Perhaps the most disturbing and callous phrase used in the Morrison Low report was the need for ACC to `significantly cut back to essential and core services only – effectively draining the swamp'," Ms Street said.
She claimed that the report highlighted a need for ACC staff to adopt a "tough love" approach.
"The report made it clear that if staff did not turn down enough claim applications they would get the sack," Ms Street said.
But ACC chief executive Dr Jan White said that was "absolutely ridiculous and untrue.
Dr White said the phrase "draining the swamp" referred to ACC's corporate office, not clients, and was written by a consultant, not ACC.
The report and subsequent controls put in place by ACC have outraged Waikato ACC advocate Quentin Mines.
"If you were to add up the dollars that claimants take from ACC it's a tiny sum compared to where ACC does not pay out where it should," he said.
Hamilton man Bruce Gardiner, who fought ACC over compensation for emotional trauma following an incident in which a man was killed after running under the milk tanker he was driving, said the report did not surprise him.
"They (ACC) are rotten to the core and the money they save would be a drop in the bucket compared to the money they spend on lawyers to get rid of cases like mine," Mr Gardiner said.
"ACC refused to accept my situation. For me it was an accident and it cost me enormously trying to prove my point in court," Mr Gardiner said.
But Dr White said ACC was governed by legislation that determined who was covered and who was not.
"We adhere closely to that legislation and provide services to meet our responsibilities.
"Clients have access to a free and independent review process if required," she said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3362909/Suicide-danger-in-ACC-delay-expert