Full interview with psycotherapist Kyle MacDonald about ACC cuts

28 Oct 2009 04:50p.m.

Robyn wrote:

go Kyle

16 Oct 2009 09:13a.m.

spacey wrote:

This is something that effects me personally - the proposed changes makes me really wonder about the humanity of the people proposing the changes. It is sickening. Please sign the petition and forward to family and friends.

16 Oct 2009 08:02a.m.

Jody wrote:

Are you serious is Drew Neemia so cool that he can sit there on national television chewing gum - sucking on a Strepsil? While doing the music review. The whole semi blasé chilly negative criticism of every group reviewed reeks of wannabe rockstar, lame.

15 Oct 2009 09:08p.m.

Deane wrote:

National has always been harsh on mental health, while at the same time increasing prison numbers.

They did this in the 90s, and they are doing it again.

The reality is, these people receiving help for mental illness under ACC are very sick indeed.

What will happen here is that once councilling has finished, these people will end up doing self harm, by which they get no cover, then they end up under the general inpatient mental health system. This causing a greater cost to the system then before.

Or, they may become offenders themselves and end up in our prison system.

So what will happen is merely a transfer of costs from one department to another. ACC may balancing its books, but the mental and criminal budgets are blown, causing an even greater burdon on our system.

Councilling provided by ACC avoids this problem.

Indeed, Nick Smith has viewed this shorted sighted.

The solution,

look at ACC other function, that is accident prevention. The governments needs to pump money into the Department of labour, so that they can join forces with ACC and start monitoring workplace safety practices, especially in the trades.

There needs to be a co ordinated effort by the police to reduce tail gaters and bad driving. All these factors will reduce the accident rate, and thus reduce the claims made to ACC.

That is what a real minister would do. Look at the root cause of the accidents, not a slash and burn band aid approach.

15 Oct 2009 08:35p.m.

Lin wrote:

Best practice? Get off the grass! It is not best practice when the major groups doing the work vehemently disagree. The Massey Guidelines are being paraded as stating this but if you read them it is hard to see where! Spin doctors are trying to pull wool over your eyes- best practice it is not!

15 Oct 2009 01:32p.m.

Anne Perry wrote:

Full recovery will not become possible for many people under the new ACC regime. The after effects of accidents are greatly helped by physiotherapy for the physical and counselling for the mental. ACC saves money in the long run as these people are then able to return to work healed. This policy is shortsighted as is the one which stops help in the home. A greater burden will be placed on the hospital system as many people will no lionger be able to stqy in their own homes.
Anne Perry

15 Oct 2009 12:52p.m.

Kyle wrote:

Hi everyone, Here's the link for the petition mentioned in the interview if you would like to support our cause. http://www.petitiononline.com/ACC0909/petition.html