SOSA Response to ACC Review

SOSA Response to ACC Review

The Independent review panel proposed 14 recommendations to ACC’s Clinical Pathway. Whilst ACC are yet to agree on all recommendations, SOSA welcomed the immediate commencement of 16 counseling sessions granted to “new and/or existing claimants.”

Ken Clearwater, SOSA Board Member who also spent two years as a member of TOAH-NNEST on the ‘ACC Service Improvement Project’ in conjunction with Government for the Taskforce on Sexual Violence, is pleased “the Government has accepted that the Clinical Pathways was damaging and want to make changes.”

SOSA President Gudrun Frerichs remains skeptical. “Although the report represents very well the concerns of survivors and mental health professionals, the recommendations are formulated quite vague and give ACC a lot of room to dodge the items.” Gudrun is concerned that whilst the recommendations are a step in the right direction, any improvement for survivors hinges on the independent supervisory panel [yet to be established] to interpret those recommendations. “It appears that ACC has actually not had a change of heart but is rather bowing down (reluctantly) to the pressure of the review panel.”

There is no disputing that the recommendations made by the Panel are a positive step forward but concerns are being raised about just how or if ACC will implement any of the proposed changes. Given the report by the Otago Daily Times from Monday, 20 September, ACC plans to cut a further 1150 long term claimants from their list.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain public pressure for all those recommendations to be implemented”, said Gudrun Frerichs.

[Link to ACC Review Panel Report]

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