Unprecedented demand from sex abuse victims for ACC support: 'It makes you want to cry'

A news report from RNZ by Hamish Cardwell

There has been an almost 400 percent increase in unsuccessful attempts by sex abuse victims to get mental health support through ACC over the past 15 months.
In that time survivors have tried more than 10,000 times to get help but were rejected.
Those who manage to secure a booking face waitlist times that have more than doubled.
ACC says it comes down to a lack of capacity among its sensitive claims mental health service suppliers.

Services at capacity - 'It's so disheartening'
Earlier this year Wellington woman Cassandra Saunders made the tough decision to seek mental health treatment for historical sexual abuse.
She contacted every mental health supplier and multiple individual therapists on ACC's accredited list for the capital - dozens and dozens in all - and got rejection after rejection.
"[They said] 'no we don't have space, no we don't have anything'. It makes you want to cry because it's just so disheartening knowing that even if you want help there's no one out there that can because their load's already too big."
Saunders said it looked like her best option was on a waitlist for an appointment up to a year away, or sooner at a different provider if she was willing to have a trainee psychologist sit in.
She did finally manage to wrangle an appointment - though lockdown put paid to it.
Wellington Rape Crisis general manager Kyla Rayner said demand was unprecedented.
"It's at the highest that we've ever seen in the history of our organisation. I've been in this role five years and the agency itself has been around over 40." 

Grim stats show system 'failing' survivors
ACC's national waitlist figures indicate that failed attempts by sex abuse survivors to get mental health help increased by 387 percent and reaching 4131 in the most recent quarter from 847, 15 months ago.
Sexual assault survivors' calls to suppliers to try and get mental health support were rejected more than 10,000 times in the past 12 months due to lack of capacity.
Many sensitive claim mental health support suppliers simply do not have room on their books to take more people on.
In fact, referrals were declined 2.8 times more often than clients were actually placed onto waitlists.
Weighted average national wait times have more than doubled in a year to more than 9 weeks, from 4.3 weeks.
Waitlist times are far longer in some places. In the three months to May average waitlist times stretched up to 25 weeks in Lower Hutt, 22 in Nelson, and 20 in Masterton.
The size of waitlists have also grown. The number of spots claimed by people has more than doubled, up 124 percent in the past 15 months - from 656 to 1473.
Green Party ACC spokesperson Jan Logie said delays compound the harm to survivors.
"Flashbacks, nightmares, terrors, really struggling to keep functioning.
"And to get to that point and then [survivors having] to make call after call after call to [suppliers and they say] 'sorry ... can't help'.
"It's an absolute failure of our system." 

ACC has doubled therapist numbers, but demand skyrocketing
ACC said the figures are a snapshot provided by services as part of a quarterly survey, and do not include people who get immediate treatment and avoid waitlists altogether.
Only a third of suppliers offer a waitlist.
The numbers also represent attempts to get access to services, not individual cases, and people likely make many attempts for support from multiple providers.
ACC said annual sensitive claims have more than doubled in five years to nearly 13,000, jumping 20 percent each year since 2014.
It has more than doubled the number of sensitive claims therapists in that time to 1990, with nearly 500 coming onboard in the past three years. It has also made it easier and faster for suppliers to bring on new therapists.
Despite all this, ACC said it has not been able to close the gap between supply and demand.
"Media coverage, the #metoo movement, the Royal Commission of Inquiry in Abuse in Care investigation, societal trends, and awareness-raising prevention campaigns are changing attitudes towards sexual violence, which we believe is resulting in more survivors of sexual violence feeling they can seek help."
Rayner from Rape Crisis said while New Zealand has high rates of sexual and domestic abuse, attitudes have also changed.
"In some ways it's kind of positive to see that so many people are coming forward because that's the reality of the prevalence of this harm in our society. The problem is now we're trying to catch up."
But Logie said ACC has known about the problems for years and has simply failed to take responsibility.
College of Clinical Psychologists executive advisor Paul Skirrow said the increase in therapists touted by ACC might not tell the whole story.
The mental toll on clinicians from working with sexual assault survivors meant many only worked part time, he said.
"There's actually ACC guidance that says that you shouldn't spend more than 50 percent of your time doing this kind of work. So we're talking about a number there but that might be a very small number of appointments available that it might translate to."
ACC said all survivors were entitled to 14 hours of one-on-one therapy, and 40 hours of other support after an initial assessment while they were having their claim analysed for possible full, long-term cover.
Those in crisis could get support from the wider mental health system, it said.

Where to get help:
NZ Police
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
Rape Prevention Education
Empowerment Trust
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): be 04 801 6655 - 0
Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline for survivors, support people and those with harmful sexual behaviour: 0800044334.
Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata Peer support for males who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse: 0800 94 22 94
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

© 2021 Radio New Zealand

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/452523/unprecedented-demand-from-sex-abuse-victims-for-acc-support-it-makes-you-want-to-cry

Counselling wait lists worsen as sexual violence claims spike

An article from The Manawatu Standard by Georgia Forrester.

Social services are  under strain as more people seek support for incidents of sexual violence.
Abuse and Rape Crisis Support Manawatu (ARCS) manager Ann Kent said the service was at capacity and had extended its hours in Palmerston North and Horowhenua, yet it still hadn't made a dent in its waiting list.
There was a two-to-three-month waiting list at ARCS for its counselling services.
The number of Manawatū people claiming ACC support for sexual violence cases had also spiked in the past year.
Figures released by ACC show there was a 24.2 per cent spike in claims made in the Manawatū District in the past financial year.
People who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual assault can lodge a sensitive claim with ACC and seek cover and entitlements for treatment, rehabilitation and compensation.
The number of sensitive claims made in Palmerston North increased by 16.3 per cent between 2015/16 and 2016/17.
Manawatū District claim costs reached $930,000 in the past year, with $2.5 million in costs paid to claims in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North was just below the national increase, which was up 16.5 per cent.
ACC redesigned its sensitive claim service in 2014 to improve accessibility,  but figures between 2012 and 2017 show a gradual increase in claims in the Manawatū area.
Kent said the ACC system was great,  but the current demand on counselling services was challenging and they were not able to keep up.
"I'm not aware of any agencies that are not experiencing an extra demand."
In an ideal world, counselling services would be offered to people there and then, but it was not realistic, she said.
During the nearly 10 years Kent had been a manager at the service, she had seen staff and client numbers jump.
Client numbers for counselling had remained steady in the past two years, but that was due to services already being at capacity, she said.
The service had expanded over time to keep up with demand, but there was no more funding available for further expansion.
Kent was unable to say whether there had been any increase in incidents of sexual violence.
"We believe that a lot of the increase is due to people being prepared to come forward to get support rather than keep silent about the abuse that they have experienced."
Police figures show reports of sexual assault and related offending tended to fluctuate monthly in the Central District.
There were 553 reports made in 2016 in the Central District, which includes Manawatū, Whanganui and Taranaki.
So far there had been 270 reports in the first six months of 2017.
Although there had not been a national campaign against sexual violence specifically, Kent said the 'It's Not OK' domestic violence campaign likely benefited the cause.
About 40 per cent of cases of violence between partners also involved sexual violence, she said.
Although there was a waiting list, Kent said social work services were still offered to people in the meantime. She encouraged people to come forward and use the services.
"What we don't want is for people to feel alone in this. We don't want them to feel completely isolated."
Green Party spokeswoman Jan Logie understood the pressure services were under, as some organisations had already raised concerns with her about heavy staff case loads.
Research showed only about one in 10 victims of sexual violence were reported.
"What we are seeing at the moment is still the tip of the iceberg."
However Logie said two-to-three-month waiting lists were too long.
A person may have waited 20 years before the trauma became too much and they finally sought help from a service. Those people needed help there and then.
Although preventative work was under way, there was still a lot of work to be done, she said.
A free national sexual violence helpline is scheduled to go live to the public on December 1, rolled out by the Ministry of Social Development.

© 2017 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/97663396/counselling-wait-lists-worsen-as-sexual-violence-claims-spike

Dealing with childhood sexual abuse as a pensioner

An article from the Timaru Herald by Esther Ashby-Coventry

An unknown number of older people have taken the crimes committed against them as children to the grave, but more are now reaching out for help.
Between 2011 and 2016 the number of women and men in New Zealand over 65 lodging sensitive claims for sexual abuse has increased.
Accident Compensation Commission figures show 81 women and 28 men aged 65 years and over lodged a sensitive claim (sexual abuse) between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 - an increase from figures in 2011/2012 in which 34 women and fewer than 10 men lodge sensitive claims.
South Canterbury counsellor Marion Williams said the increase could probably be attributed to more openness around the issue, but she would like to see more.
"Talking about it gets power over those who abuse and spreads more knowledge," Williams said.
Williams has counselled people with sensitive issues for 17 years and said many people 65 or older did not know how to access help, so the ACC figures were unlikely to represent the reality.
"I have heard some horrific stories from men who have suffered sexual abuse as a child who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s."
Many men tended to try and blot it out through sport, fighting, alcohol and drug use whereas women were often passive and focussed on caring for others to forget about themselves, she said.
"Their fear emotions may stay as a certain memory until they are dealt with."
Nightmares, grief and emotional pain could cause flashbacks of the trauma.
"It's like a tumour ... it's never too late to get help."
Up until the 1990s, when abuse started to be talked about, children who had been abused were often not believed or not listened to.
"The person may have tried to tell someone years ago and got into more problems. It was the culture of the times."
A number of the abused Williams has worked with had never been asked their stories and were treated for their symptoms such as depression or anxiety.
"They may suffer from shame, guilt and fear of speaking out."
The most important aspect of counselling was listening and acknowledging what had happened.
"People want to know they are heard and believed. The greatest healer is acknowledging the dreadful event and as not their fault."
Williams said people did not need a referral from their GP to get counselling for childhood sexual abuse.
"The counsellor will take you through the ACC process."
Age Concern Canterbury chief executive Simon Templeton said although ACC did fund a number of claims, it was hard for older people to get input from a public health psychologist as the area was underfunded and under-resourced.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy could help some people accept what had happened and help them move on without having to relive what they had been through, he said. But that was not in the best interests of all sexual abuse survivors.
"They could talk it over [where to get help] with their GP and look at options if it [abuse] was still affecting their lives. It's not a small issue."
South Canterbury Senior Citizens community support co-ordinator Robyn Baldwin said no-one had talked to her about such a "delicate matter" during her work.
"So many [senior citizens] have never talked about it and don't. A lot of their abusers are not around now."

© 2017 Fairfax New Zealand Limited

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/85067123/dealing-with-childhood-sexual-abuse-as-a-pensioner

ACC Minister must help sexual violence survivors

A press release from the Green Party by Jan Logie

The Green Party is calling on ACC Minister Nikki Kaye to remove the obligation for sexual violence survivors to be diagnosed with a mental illness before being allowed additional ACC-funded counselling.
Green Party MP Jan Logie and survivor advocate Louise Nicholas today launched a new campaign and petition to demand that survivors don’t need a mental illness diagnosis in order to have their sensitive claims proceed.
“Being the victim of sexual violence is not a mental illness,” Ms Logie said.
“Being subjected to sexual violence is trauma enough. Being a victim of sexual violence on its own should qualify survivors for the help they need.
“It’s great to hear the Minister Nikki Kaye say she’s open to a better way of helping the survivors of sexual violence. Removing the obligation for them to be diagnosed with a mental illness is an appropriate start.”
The petition is available here: http://action.greens.org.nz/remove_the_barriers
Under current ACC practice, in order for survivors of sexual violence to have their ACC sensitive claim approved, they must be diagnosed with a psychiatric condition. Up to 16 hours of one-on-one therapy is initially available when someone lodges a sensitive claim with ACC, however accessing help after that requires a diagnosis.
“In many cases this labelling of sexual violence survivors can be re-traumatising and stigmatising, and is a significant deterrent for those who need treatment.
“ACC needs to change its processes so that people are able to access the help that they need,” Ms Logie said.

More information is available here http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qwa/QWA_03866_2016/3866-2016-jan-logie-to-the-minister-for-acc

© 2016 The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-release/acc-minister-must-help-sexual-violence-survivors

Sexual-violence inquiry reveals gaps in services and funding shortfall

An article from the New Zealand Herald by Isaac Davison

John was first referred to sexual violence services aged 12. His mother was schizophrenic and his father, a gang member with a violent history, was in prison.
After he began acting out violently and sexually at school, Child, Youth and Family (CYF) shuffled him through foster homes in his rural neighbourhood. He failed to improve, and was moved to a specialist home in a nearby city, where he was diagnosed with high-functioning autism.
John's life turned around when he was transferred to a state-funded residential treatment programme.
"He did exceptionally well," said Lesley Ayland, chief executive of the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Sector.
"He made a huge improvement in his learning, his behaviour settled, he returned to the group home and continued to do well. He was on track to attend university."
But when John turned 17, CYF closed its case because he had become an adult. There was no equivalent support for adults. He returned home to his mother, who was refusing medication. His behaviour deteriorated and he reoffended.
John's story was one of several complex and tragic cases told to a major inquiry into sexual violence services in New Zealand, which resumes hearings in Wellington tomorrow. Doctors, victims, psychologists, lobby groups and officials warned Parliament's social services committee last week that there were a number of gaps in the current system. They expressed concern about long waits for services, uncertainty about continued funding, total absence of funding for some sectors, and the struggle to help Maori, rural, transgender or intersex clients.
National crime statistics released last week revealed a 10 per cent increase in sexual assaults between 2012 and 2013. The trend could reflect increased reporting of abuse, not a rise in the rate of assaults.
Wellington Rape Crisis agency manager Eleanor Butterworth said more victims were seeking help because the stigma around sexual violence was increasingly being broken down. She said this change would require greater resourcing for sexual violence services.
"That means long-term plans, not pilots, it means multi-year funding contracts, it means services directed at hard-to-reach and marginalised communities and it means getting your head around the fact that one in four women and one in eight men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime and that many of those people will want to access specialist services at some point in their lives."
The most common complaint to the inquiry was the absence of secure, long-term funding for frontline services. Funding was usually distributed in one- or two-year contracts, which gave providers little certainty for treating clients who required years of rehabilitation.
Only $77,000 of Wellington Rape Crisis' $300,000 to $330,000 budget was guaranteed, non-contestable funding. It was temporarily forced to reduce its service from five to four days a week last year because of a lack of funding - a shortfall which prompted Green MP Jan Logie to seek the inquiry. At present, the rape crisis agency is running on a $100,000 deficit and will cut services again if it cannot secure more funding.
MPs also heard about geographical gaps in the system. Specialist services are mostly limited to the main cities and some centres have no services at all. Some rural clients have to travel long distances for treatment.
ACC is doubling its budget for sensitive claims (sexual abuse or rape cases) at the end of this year. But the Government still requires specialist support to meet the complex needs of rape victims or their perpetrators.
Intersex Trust Aotearoa executive director Mani Mitchell said that despite the high proportion of abuse among transgender or intersex people, there was no specialised service for these groups. Submitters also told the inquiry that funding was skewed towards victims and the care and protection of children.
Cuts by the Ministry of Social Development in tight fiscal times meant adult sex offenders who abused other adults could not get treatment unless they were in the criminal justice system. This was significant because sexual offending was largely a hidden crime - just one in 100 offenders went to prison. Many people knew their abusers and did not want to charge them. But unless they were charged, their recovery was not state-subsidised.
Ms Ayland said many abusers voluntarily sought treatment if it was available.
MPs heard that CYF had some blind spots. In one case, six boys had seriously assaulted another boy at a secondary school. But CYF did not intervene if a young person was a threat to his or her peers.
When the hearings are completed, the select committee will make recommendations to Government for improvements to the system.
Paediatric Society head Dawn Elder said she hoped any reforms would bring care for sexual abuse victims into line with the rest of New Zealand's health system.
"It seems odd to me that you can have renal failure and you get dialysis, you can have cancer and you get paid for your cancer treatment. [But] you can have a really crappy childhood and have severe mental problems and some sexual offending problems and you struggle to get services. I don't understand it."

© 2014 APN New Zealand Ltd

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11233998

Mixed results in sensitive claims survey

An article from NZ Doctor by Katie Marriner

A survey of ACC sensitive claims providers generated mixed responses on how recommendations from a report to improve the service have been implemented.
Respondents were surveyed in 2010 on the 14 recommendations proposed in an independent review of the sensitive claims pathway conducted by former mental health commissioner Barbara Disley (New Zealand Doctor, 22 September 2010).
When asked how "client-centred" ACC's sensitive claims communications were at the time of the survey compared to 18 months before, 83 per cent of respondents thought they were either much better, better or somewhat better.
Most people (41 per cent) thought the 16 hours of support sessions for certain claimants "definitely" improved access for claimants in the early stage of their claim.
But more than half (55 per cent) of respondents thought ACC was not applying the definition of "mental injury" using a range of assessment tools which was the purpose of recommendation three.
Most respondents (34 per cent) said on-going professional development is the most important thing ACC could do to improve the quality of the service.
Of the 188 people that responded to the survey, most (36 per cent) were counsellors. Psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists were among the other respondents.
All of the survey results are available here.

http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/news/2012/august-2012/20/mixed-results-in-sensitive-claims-survey.aspx

Problem solved

A blog post from Off the Couch by Kyle MacDonald

In breaking news today the National Government has responded enthusiastically to the Dr. Barbara Disley authored 18 month monitoring report on the ACC’s Sensitive Claims treatment pathway calling it “a triumph of policy over reason.”
New details revealed by the report show that in 2008, claims accepted and therefore the level of PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and assault was diagnosed by the ACC’s assessors was at a whopping 60%.
However since the National led Government’s change of direction at the ACC the percentage of claims accepted dropped dramatically to 40% in 2009; 13% in 2010; 3.5% in 2011 and thus far in 2012 just 3.6%.

Click here to read the rest of this post.

http://psychotherapy.org.nz/problem-solved/

ACC shows kinder face, cuts back-to-work goals

An article from the New Zealand Herald by Adam Bennett

ACC is to soften its drive to get long-term claimants back into work in the face of concerns it is pushing clients off its books before they are properly rehabilitated.
The corporation yesterday published its Service and Purchase Agreement for the 2012-15 period in which it sets out its targets and priorities. Improving "trust and confidence" was the corporation's number one priority in the agreement, replacing "cost containment" which was top of the list last year. Its second priority in this year's agreement is "improved management and security of private information".
Since March, the corporation has grappled with a massive privacy breach and ensuing scandal, a failed attempt to prosecute claimant and former National Party insider Bronwyn Pullar for blackmail, and an increasing spotlight on its controversial strategy to bolster its financial sustainability by moving costly long-term claimants off its books. That came top of a series of articles in the Herald highlighting ACC's tougher approach to elective surgery claims.
Figures obtained by the Herald last week showed the corporation cut the number of long-term claimants receiving weekly compensation by 3644 or 25 per cent to 10,773 in the three years since June 2009.
That was well ahead of targets. Last week ACC said its target for the 2012-13 year was a reduction of 253. In the agreement published yesterday that target was reduced to 200.
Acting ACC chairwoman Paula Rebstock said that as the number of long-term claimants declined, so did the targets for reducing that tally further.
She acknowledged "there was some discussion" about having the target slightly higher for the coming year, "but the board took the view that given the new priorities and the focus on addressing some of these other issues, that target would have to be slightly lower and we lowered it".
Those priorities and issues were spelled out clearly in ACC Minister Judith Collins' "letter of expectations" to former chairman John Judge in April which was also released yesterday.
While she said the corporation had done well managing its finances, the board had a broader set of responsibilities including "ensuring entitlements are delivered fairly and transparently to all New Zealanders".
"While the gains made by ACC over the past year are very pleasing, I am aware that the initiatives taken by the board to raise performance of ACC have had many and varied impacts on claimants, health providers, and other stakeholders" she went on to say. "ACC and the way it delivers services are now seen by many in a new light ... Recent events have not helped the public image of the corporation."
Greens ACC spokesman Kevin Hague said the new agreement was encouraging.
"I'd been looking at this document as a litmus test for whether Ms Collins' language about a culture change should be assumed to be empty rhetoric or whether it's likely to have substance, and very clearly in her letter of expectations and in the agreement ... she's actually followed through so far."
Claimants advocacy group the ACC Futures Coalition said Ms Collins had set out some good first steps.
"They should go a long way towards strengthening ACC as a public institution for the coming year" said spokeswoman Hazel Armstrong. "We welcome the emphasis on rebuilding public trust and confidence in ACC, but trust takes a long time to build and, as the corporation has just found out, can evaporate rather quickly."
However, the agreement said nothing about the need for ACC to use truly independent medical assessors and it still emphasised getting people off the scheme using "vocational independence".
"Both these factors have contributed to claimant disillusionment with the scheme and need to be addressed."

ACC'S TARGETS
For culling long term claimants:
* 2009-10: 100
* 2010-11: 1150
* 2011-12: 406
* 2012-13: 200
* 2013-14: 89
* 2014-15: 50

© 2012 APN Holdings NZ Ltd

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10816237

National fail women

A blog post from Tumeke! by Bomber Bradbury

Government failing women - Labour
The National Government is failing women, Labour MP Sue Moroney says.
The biennial New Zealand Census of Women's Participation 2010, published today, tracks progress, or the lack of it, for women across the corporate and private sectors at governance and management levels.
It says women comprise 32 percent of MPs, 30 percent of Cabinet, 72 percent of teachers and 47 percent of school principals.
There are only three female editors out of the 26 daily newspapers, while 26 percent of the country's judges are women, as are 29 percent of the New Zealand police force.
Although 59 percent of the workers in public service are women, only six out of 34 public service departments have a woman chief executive.
The report identifies a 15.4 percent gender pay gap in the public service, which is greater than the total labour force gender pay gap of 13 per cent.
Equal Opportunities Commissioner Judy McGregor said in some areas women's participation had stalled and was sliding backwards.

It's not just in these stats that we see the National fail women, we see it in their destructive attitudes towards child care and we see it in their forcing Solo Mothers back to work based on flawed voodoo math from the Ideologically stacked Welfare Razor Gang.
The vast majority of NZers stay on welfare for a year, the vast minority stay on the dole for a decade, yet the ideologically stacked Welfare Razor Gang arrived at the $50 billion figure by claiming that if every person on welfare right now stayed on Welfare for their entire lives, as in no one got a job for the rest of their life, THEN and only then would it cost $50 billion.
What makes me so furious about the ideologically stacked Welfare Razor Gang is that they are making up bullshit numbers to justify attacking the most vulnerable in NZ while John Key hands over tax cuts to those who are already rich. Forcing solo mothers, the mentally unwell, the sick and the crippled back to work based on bullshit numbers is an obscenity.
Many of these users of Welfare are women so they are being let down at the bottom and at the top by National Party policy.
One way the Government are really letting women down though is with their despicable decision to cut ACC funded counselling for victims of sex crimes. Despite a damning report on the bullshit ‘Massey Guidelines’ policy ACC is still continuing to deny women counseling services for rape with no monitoring system put in place despite promises by Nick Smith and ACC to do it.
John Key appealed to female voters last election in the midst of the repeal of section 59 hysteria, now woman can see the reality of National's policy it will be interesting to see if they are still enthralled by him.

http://tumeke.blogspot.com/2010/11/national-fail-women.html

Questions for written answer

34755 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009 as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table which shows all new sensitive claims lodged with ACC from November 2009 to October 2010, by region of injury, and the claim's current decision status. Please note that some numbers have changed since the last time this information was reported. This is due to claims being re-classified and either added to or removed from, the sensitive claims pool.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/4/9/QWA_34755_2010-34755-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34756 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 34755 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/a/f/QWA_34756_2010-34756-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34757 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34756 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/2/1/QWA_34757_2010-34757-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34758 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010 as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34756 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/9/2/QWA_34758_2010-34758-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34759 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010 as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34756 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/5/c/QWA_34759_2010-34759-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34760 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010 as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34756 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/d/4/QWA_34760_2010-34760-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34761 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for June 2010 as at 29 October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34756 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/c/5/QWA_34761_2010-34761-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34762 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many letters, if any, has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have received 8 letters about the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, since 22 July 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/0/7/4/QWA_34762_2010-34762-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34763 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many emails has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, if any, since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have received approximately 14 emails about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 22 July 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/4/7/QWA_34763_2010-34763-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34764 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What correspondence, if any, has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: To answer this question would require substantial work. If the member requires specific information I would be happy to provide it.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/2/2/QWA_34764_2010-34764-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34765 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What briefings have the Minister received in regard to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, by date and title, since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: There are other more appropriate avenues for the Member to pursue this information.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/f/0/QWA_34765_2010-34765-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34766 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What meetings has the Minister had regarding to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 22 July 2010, by date?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I frequently meet with officials to discuss ACC-related issues including issues related to Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/4/6/QWA_34766_2010-34766-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34767 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What papers, if any, has the Minister taken to Cabinet in regard to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 22 July 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: Since 22 July 2010 I have not taken any papers to Cabinet regarding Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/3/9/QWA_34767_2010-34767-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34768 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, oral reports relating to Sensitive Claims and/or the Sensitive Claims Pathway has he received since 22 July 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I frequently receive oral reports relating to ACC-related issues including issues related to Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/7/5/QWA_34768_2010-34768-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34769 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, written reports relating to Sensitive Claims and/or the Sensitive Claims Pathway has he received since 22 July 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: There are other more appropriate avenues for the Member to pursue this information.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/6/7/QWA_34769_2010-34769-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34770 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, papers did the Minister take to Cabinet, relating to Sensitive Claims and or ACC’s Sensitive Claims Unit, since 22 July 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: Since 22 July 2010 I have not taken any papers to Cabinet on Sensitive Claims and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/5/2/QWA_34770_2010-34770-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34771 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What committees, taskforces, or other work groups, if any, has he or his officials established since 22 July 2010, relating to Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: Since the announcement of the 16 hours of support sessions on 16 August 2010, and the subsequent release of the Independent Panel’s report, ACC has been actively working with the Sensitive Claims Advisory Group (SCAG) to address the issues and concerns raised in the report and to ensure the implementation of the recommendations. As a result, three priority areas of focus have been agreed:
• Work on the development of approaches to Maori, children and adolescents,
• Work on alterations to DSM IV; and
• Work on improving counsellor capability and capacity.
Sub-committees of SCAG have been established and work is underway on these priority areas. In addition, ACC has met with representatives from relevant Government agencies to progress the recommendations in the report. These agencies include: Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development, Child Youth and Family, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/0/0/QWA_34771_2010-34771-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34772 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, meetings did the Minister have with lobby groups since 22 July 2010, by date and group relating to Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: It is difficult to define "lobby groups". I have been approached by a number of people with an interest in sensitive claims since I was appointed Minister, but I have not kept a record of the date of these. The only formal meetings I have had have been with the Independent Review Group.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/0/6/QWA_34772_2010-34772-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34773 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many, if any, casual staff have been employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: No casual staff are employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit. However, ACC has employed six temporary workers since 22 July 2010. Three finished employment in September 2010, one will finish in November 2010, and the last two will finish in December 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/0/c/QWA_34773_2010-34773-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34774 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the cost of all contractors hired by ACC’s Sensitive Claims Unit, per week, as broken down by individual contractor since 8 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table. A contractor is defined as a person employed on a contract for services basis, in that they provide services to an employer but are not employees: they are self-employed or employed by a third party.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/d/c/QWA_34774_2010-34774-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34775 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What advice has the Minister sought or received to deal with the implications of the current economic downturn for this portfolio in relation to the Sensitive Claims Unit since 22 July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The advice I have received on sensitive claims has not been in the context of the economic downturn but has been focused on best clinical practice.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/a/0/QWA_34775_2010-34775-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34786 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for how many cases of sexual abuse reported in 2008, by region and gender, have received support from the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 8420 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/3/a/QWA_34786_2010-34786-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34787 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for how many cases of sexual abuse reported in 2009, by region and gender, have received support from the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 8420 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/6/c/QWA_34787_2010-34787-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34788 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for how many cases of sexual abuse reported in 2010, by region and gender, have received support from the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 8420 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/2/1/QWA_34788_2010-34788-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34789 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: To date for 2010 what is the average payout by the Sensitive Claims Unit, my month and region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: For the purpose of this question, ACC has defined a payout as being the average total expenditure per month per sensitive claim which received payment in the month. This figure covers all payments for a claim, such as medical fees, counselling, weekly compensation, lump sums and independence allowances. The table attached shows the average amount spent on a sensitive claim in each month in 2010 as at 30 October 2010 (excluding those claims for which no payments were made). This information is for all sensitive claims regardless of when the claim was lodged. It also includes payments made for declined claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/8/a/QWA_34789_2010-34789-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34790 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his Ministerial colleagues since 6 September 2010, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I discuss many different ACC-related issues with my Ministerial colleagues including issues relating to sensitive claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/8/7/QWA_34790_2010-34790-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34791 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his parliamentary colleagues since 6 September 2010, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I discuss many different ACC-related issues with my Parliamentary colleagues including issues relating to sensitive claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/4/d/QWA_34791_2010-34791-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34792 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 34755 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/0/a/a/QWA_34792_2010-34792-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34793 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/9/e/QWA_34793_2010-34793-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34794 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/a/c/QWA_34794_2010-34794-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34795 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for June 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/a/c/QWA_34795_2010-34795-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34796 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/0/1/QWA_34796_2010-34796-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34797 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/3/a/QWA_34797_2010-34797-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34798 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, for the Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/a/0/QWA_34798_2010-34798-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34799 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, as at 29 October 2010, for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/5/9/QWA_34799_2010-34799-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34800 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/d/4/QWA_34800_2010-34800-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34801 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for August, September and October 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/5/7/QWA_34801_2010-34801-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34802 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/0/9/QWA_34802_2010-34802-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34803 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/a/b/QWA_34803_2010-34803-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34804 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/d/5/QWA_34804_2010-34804-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34805 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of how many sensitive claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/3/6/QWA_34805_2010-34805-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

34806 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers, as at 29 October 2010, of how many sensitive claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 34792 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/d/4/QWA_34806_2010-34806-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

ACC appeals overloaded

An article from the Otago Daily Times by John Gibb

Critics say the ACC appeals system is threatening to burst at the seams, with review applications soaring to 9900 during the past year and 1446 cases stacked up at the district court.
Dunedin ACC campaigner Denise Powell and city lawyer Peter Sara, who has been handling ACC cases for more than 30 years, are urging a rethink of the way ACC is operating. An excessive emphasis on cost cutting and excluding many such claimants from coverage was causing the upsurge in reviews and appeals, Mr Sara told the Otago Daily Times.
The Green Party recently called for an independent review of changes made to ACC by the Government during the past two years, after a review of controversial changes to ACC's sexual abuse assessment procedures highlighted major flaws.
But ACC claims management acting general manager Mike Tully said he found it "hard to imagine how ACC could be too focused on cost containment when we have a $10.3 billion deficit to contend with."
"The fact is that the future of the ACC scheme was in jeopardy and some difficult decisions were necessary," Mr Tully said. An increase in reviews and appeals was "to be expected given our much tighter focus on applying our legislation properly".
"We also recognise that the benefits of being on ACC are considerable, especially if time off work is required, so we expect that people will do whatever they can to get on to ACC.
"What's important is that over the last couple of years the proportion of reviews and appeals upheld in ACC's favour has remained relatively steady in most areas, at about 75%." ACC decision-making processes were "fair and robust", he said.
Long-term ACC claimant numbers dropped from 15,271 to about 12,500 during the 2009-10 financial year, and ACC plans to cut at least 1150 more clients from its long-term claimant list by the middle of next year. Applications for reviews of ACC claim decisions had earlier risen from 6256 to 8160 over the 2008-09 financial year, a parliamentary report noted.
Officials at Disputes Resolution Services Ltd (DRSL), an ACC subsidiary which operates independently of ACC, said 9900 applications for review had been lodged with it in the 12 months to June 30 this year. A total of 9430 reviews were also completed or withdrawn over that period.
Ministry of Justice tribunals national manager Wayne Newall noted that if claimants were "unhappy" about an ACC claim, the first step was for ACC to review the decision, including through DRSL. If people were still not satisfied, they could apply to the Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry to further review the decision. The registry hears claims against decisions by DRSL, and district court judges deal with the appeals. The judges decided 236 cases last year, and 625 new cases were lodged. Of the 1446 "live" appeal cases before the court, 115 originated in Dunedin, Mr Newall said.
Denise Powell, who is the president of Acclaim Otago, an ACC claimant support group, said the appeal system was "getting so overloaded that it could burst at the seams".
"There must be a point at which they say, whether the courts say, or ACC says, something's wrong and if this continues we just can't keep up with the number of reviews and appeals that are coming through."

© Allied Press Limited 2010
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/128144/acc-appeals-overloaded

Question for written answer

26941 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Does he have any evidence to support the statement he made in the House on 17 August 2010 that half of the claimants were turned down under Labour because he tabled a document on 27 October 2009 that said the decline rate was 40.5% in 2008?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The decline rate for sensitive claims for the last full year in 2008 was 40.5%, up from 32.7% the previous year, and from 6% when Labour became Government. The decline rate by November 2008 at the time of the change of Government was approximately half.

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/3/4/e/QWA_26941_2010-26941-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Questions for written answer

25126 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for December 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/a/4/QWA_25126_2010-25126-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25127 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for January 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/9/f/QWA_25127_2010-25127-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25128 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for February 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/5/3/QWA_25128_2010-25128-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25129 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 23084 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/f/5/QWA_25129_2010-25129-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25183 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Will the Minister make the final costs of the Sensitive Claims review panel public, and when?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The final costs of the Sensitive Claims Review will be a matter of public record but I have made no decision about when this information would be released publicly.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/6/0/QWA_25183_2010-25183-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25184 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many oral submissions, if any, did the Independent Clinical Review group of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims receive, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I understand that the panel met with 32 organisations and approximately 50 sexual abuse survivors. The panel would need to respond to the questions relating to titles and dates of the submissions.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/b/0/QWA_25184_2010-25184-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Questions for written answer

24964 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims that were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region ?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table which shows all new sensitive claims lodged with ACC from 1 November 2009 to 31 July 2010, by region of injury, and the claim's current decision status as at 7 August 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/6/9/QWA_24964_2010-24964-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25065 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: When is the Minister expecting to announce the Government’s response to the outcome of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: My decision on when to announce the Government’s response will be made after receiving the Independent Clinical Review’s report, which is due on 10 September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/6/b/QWA_25065_2010-25065-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25066 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his Ministerial colleagues, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I am yet to receive the final report from the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/6/2/QWA_25066_2010-25066-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25067 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his parliamentary colleagues, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25066 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/0/f/QWA_25067_2010-25067-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25068 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister sought any advice from Crown Law on the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25066 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/0/a/QWA_25068_2010-25068-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25069 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What was the total cost for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The total cost will not be known until the review is completed.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/e/1/QWA_25069_2010-25069-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25070 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the total cost to date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I am advised that the total cost to date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims is $168,238.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/0/f/QWA_25070_2010-25070-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25071 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What was the total cost of production of the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25069 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/b/5/QWA_25071_2010-25071-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25072 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Does the Minister have confidence in all members of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims, if so why, if not why not?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have confidence in the members of this panel because they have the range of skills, experience and expertise required.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/8/3/QWA_25072_2010-25072-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25073 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the deadline date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The report from the Independent Clinical Review Panel is expected to be completed by September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/4/4/6/QWA_25073_2010-25073-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25074 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: If the report for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims recommends returning to the previous system, will the Minister support this outcome?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I will consider the advice when I receive the final report.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/9/e/QWA_25074_2010-25074-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25075 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Can the Minister provide an update of the status of the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The Independent Clinical Review Panel continues to work towards completing its report by September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/4/8/QWA_25075_2010-25075-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25076 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Can the Minister advise when the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims will be available?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The report will be available to me by 10 September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/f/a/QWA_25076_2010-25076-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25077 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many, if any, written submissions did the Independent Clinical Review group of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims receive, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I understand that the panel received 177 written submissions. The panel would need to respond to the questions relating to titles and dates of the submissions.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/4/1/QWA_25077_2010-25077-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25078 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/8/7/QWA_25078_2010-25078-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25079 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/e/6/QWA_25079_2010-25079-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25080 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/d/c/QWA_25080_2010-25080-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25081 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for June 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/b/7/QWA_25081_2010-25081-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25082 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/9/3/QWA_25082_2010-25082-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25083 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25078, 25079, 25080, (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/e/4/QWA_25083_2010-25083-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25084 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/0/0/QWA_25084_2010-25084-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Questions for written answer

16340 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many letters, if any, has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have received 159 letters raising concerns about the Clinical Pathway or the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/d/2/QWA_16340_2010-16340-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16341 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many emails, if any, has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have received 85 emails raising concerns about the Clinical Pathway or the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/8/c/QWA_16341_2010-16341-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16342 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What correspondence, if any, has the Minister received raising concerns about Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have received 247 items of correspondence raising concerns about the Clinical Pathway or the Sensitive Claims Unit, including a web-based petition.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/1/8/QWA_16342_2010-16342-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16343 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What briefings, if any, has the Minister received in regard to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table which shows the briefings which I have received regarding the Sensitive Claims Pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/c/f/QWA_16343_2010-16343-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16344 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What meetings, if any, has the Minister had regarding to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 April 2010, by date?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have had three specific meetings on the Sensitive Claims Pathway. The first was a briefing for MPs on 28 October 2009 which the member attended - although the member was asked to leave after she was abusive to Dr Peter Jansen. The other two meetings were with the Independent Clinical Review Team to discuss progress on their report. The first meeting was an introduction; the second was a progress report. The issue of sensitive claims has been discussed at a number of weekly status meetings.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/b/b/8/QWA_16344_2010-16344-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16345 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What papers, if any, has the Minister taken to Cabinet in regard to the Sensitive Claims pathway and/or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 April 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have taken no papers to Cabinet regarding Sensitive Claims/Sensitive Claims Pathway or the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 April 2010 as the matter was an operational matter in which I have had no direct decision making other than, recognising community concern, initiating an independent clinical review.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/d/b/QWA_16345_2010-16345-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16346 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, oral reports relating to Sensitive Claims and/or the Sensitive Claims Pathway did he receive since 1 April 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: This issue has been discussed with officials at various meetings since 1 April 2010. I have also met with the Independent Review Panel.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/2/9/QWA_16346_2010-16346-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16347 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, papers did the Minister take to Cabinet, relating to Sensitive Claims and or ACC’s Sensitive Claims Unit, since 1 April 2010, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question 16345 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/9/3/QWA_16347_2010-16347-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16363 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many ACC approved psychiatrists are currently being paid in relation to Sensitive Claims Unit claims, by headcount and/or full time equivalent?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: In June 2010, ACC paid 49 providers under the Psychiatrist contract for Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/c/1/QWA_16363_2010-16363-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16364 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many ACC approved psychologists are currently being paid in relation to the Sensitive Claims Unit claims, by headcount and/or full time equivalent?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: In June 2010, ACC paid 63 providers under the Psychologist, and Diagnostic and Treatment Assessment (DATA) contracts for Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/2/f/QWA_16364_2010-16364-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16373 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, written reports relating to Sensitive Claims and/or the Sensitive Claims Pathway did he receive since 1 December 2008, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question 16343 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/8/5/QWA_16373_2010-16373-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16375 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What, if any, meetings did the Minister have with lobby groups since 1 April 2010, by date and group relating to Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have not had any meetings with lobby groups since 1 April 2010 relating to sensitive claims. I have encouraged groups with concerns to refer them to the Independent Clinical Review team.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/5/4/QWA_16375_2010-16375-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16376 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, for the Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table, which shows all new sensitive claims lodged with ACC from 1 November 2009 to 30 June 2010 by region of injury and the claim's current decision status as at 05 July 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/8/d/QWA_16376_2010-16376-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16377 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to the response to written Parliamentary Question 16376 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/2/6/QWA_16377_2010-16377-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16378 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for June 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to the response to written Parliamentary Question 16376 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/5/2/QWA_16378_2010-16378-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16379 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the member to the response to written Parliamentary Question 16376 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/d/7/QWA_16379_2010-16379-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16380 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 16379 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/5/d/QWA_16380_2010-16380-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16381 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 16379 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/1/2/QWA_16381_2010-16381-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16382 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers, if any, for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Question No. 16379 (2010)
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/6/1/QWA_16382_2010-16382-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16383 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What advice has the Minister sought or received, if any, to deal with the implications of the current economic downturn for this portfolio in relation to the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have not sought or received advice about the implications of the current economic downturn for this portfolio in relation to the Sensitive Claims Unit nor am I aware of what relevance this has to the issues managed by the Sensitive Claims Unit.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/6/f/QWA_16383_2010-16383-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16384 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the cost of all contractors hired by ACC’ Sensitive Claims Unit, per week, as broken down by individual contractor since 1 April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/a/0/QWA_16384_2010-16384-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

16385 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many, if any, casual staff have been employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: No casual staff have been employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 April 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/2/c/QWA_16385_2010-16385-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm