Grey Power September 2019

NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » SEPTEMBER 2019 47
NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUPS REPORTS
ACC NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP
The last period has
seen to be one
of consolidation
and preparation of a
submission to parliament.
This will revolve
around starting to push
for the removal of the
age-related injuries.
We believe that this is
a breach of the Human
Rights Act and pending
the result of the advocacy
trip the HRC may
well be our next target.
We have been notified
of the appointment
of two Association
representatives
to collate any ACC issue
in their area. They
are in Kawarau and
Palmerston North. We
thank those people for
assisting us.
We continue to get
good feedback from
members bringing us
up to date with what
is happening in their
lives. Although we
continue to push these
issues we do not as yet
have a great deal of success.
A full agenda has
been prepared for our
meeting with ACC
so hopefully this will
bear fruit.
ACC have been provided
with two books
written by Grey Power
members outlining
their journey with ACC
and hopefully these will
come up for discussion
at the meeting.
ACC have now appointed
a funded advocate
to appear for
clients that have been
poorly treated by ACC.
This free service will
be supplied by Warren
Forster, a very wellknown
lawyer for ACC
matters. He can be contacted
through email at
Warren.Forster@talkmeetreslve.co.nz
REPORT ON - ACC
MEETING HELD IN
WELLINGTON ON
2ND AUGUST 2019
This meeting was attended
by Caryl Blomkvist
and myself and
Emma Powell and
Cameron Sherlley from
ACC.
The discussion was
quite wide- ranging regarding
ACC building
on matters previously
discussed and some
further progress was
made.
There was discussion
over their interpretation
of Section 12B of
the act and although
we still disagree some
movement was made.
There is a need for
older people particularly
to be aware of what is
required when dealing
with ACC as far as using
the correct paperwork.
Emma has undertaken
to prepare an article for
our magazine covering
this aspect.
We discussed the
makeup of review panels
and were advised
that they were various
combinations depending
on the level of review.
In some minor
cases it was staff only
but depending on the
severity of the injury
the makeup was altered
and in some cases
through to the use of
medical practitioners as
required.
We discussed again
the need to remove any
reference to de-generation
due to age. Although
this will be difficult
some movement
may be made. We advised
ACC that we were
discussing this with the
Human Rights Commission,
so they also felt
the need to enter into
the same discussion
with them.
There was discussion
around the use and removal
of surgical mesh.
This is ongoing as it
apparent that there are
very few, if any, surgeons
in New Zealand
who have the ability
to reverse this process
when it goes wrong
and overseas treatment
is needed. This is still
work in progress. We
discussed the new advocates,
Meet talk review
under Warren Forster.
This group is still developing
and more information
will be provided
when the structure
is complete. This is a
free advocacy service
funded by ACC.
Another organisation
has been set up
called Independent
Complaints Review Ltd.
This is similar to Fairway,
but offers another
service.
Graeme Faulkner
Chair
AGED CARE & RE-
TIREMENT VIL-
LAGES
The report on the review
of Aged Residential
Care funding was
scheduled for release
on 20 August. It will
be interesting to see
which recommendations
the Government
will accept.
It is also of interest
that the Ministry
of Health is holding a
Scoping Workshop for
a review of the Health
and Disability Services,
Aged Residential Care
as well as another Scoping
Workshop on the
Home and community
Support Services. Both
these standards have
not been reviewed for
some years.
Mate Marinovich has
advised that an elderly
man who lived in a
block of council owned
flats in south Auckland
was found five days after
he had died. It is a
pity that a neighbourhood
watch cannot be
established for these
blocks of flats, with
other residents checking
that the neighbour
is up and about on a
once daily basis. I am
well aware of a person’s
privacy, but a neighbourly
check could also
resolve the problem
of loneliness and social
isolation which is
recognised as a major
problem for older people
living alone. Councils
who own the units
should install emergency
alarms to ensure the
safety and wellbeing of
the residents.
R Reid
Committee Chair
COMMERCIAL
AGREEMENTS
Since my last report,
not a great deal has occurred
in this area apart
from regular Grey Power
Electricity meetings
and updates.
Grey Power Electricity
Directors are
currently negotiating a
new Contract with our
partner Pulse Energy
to make some minor
changes and incorporate
the provision of the
new Internet service offer.
Unfortunately, it
would appear the Mobil
Fuel Card deal has
finally come to grief.
Although it has been
announced by Pulse on
several occasions, the
Agreements were negotiated
with Mobil Area
office, Singapore. Mobil’s
marketing arm for
Australasia is a company
known as Pounamu.
This would appear to
be where the problems
have arisen.
Grey Power Electric-
Continued on page 48
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