Why medical injury needs its own ACC

Nau mai haere mai

If you were to experience a traumatic brain injury falling from a ladder, how would you recover? In all probability, you would get support under the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) social investment model – including up to 80% of your pre-accident income.

But what if the brain injury wasn’t because of an accident? What if the traumatic event was medical, such as a stroke?

Ineligible for ACC, New Zealanders suffering from strokes, cancers or mental health conditions, along with other non-accident related injuries, are frequently left to negotiate health and related rehabilitative services alone. And that leaves a significant number of people struggling to recover in the face of emotional and financial stress.

According to research from the University of Waikato’s Michelle Cameron, New Zealand needs to consider introducing wraparound care for people who are ineligible for ACC. “Despite many wanting to return to work,” she writes, “this population often falls between the cracks of health and social services.”

In her research, Cameron explores the strengths and weaknesses of a pilot scheme delivered between 2016 and 2021 in the Waikato. She argues the government needs to make a long-term financial commitment to programmes like this to ensure those with debilitating medical issues don’t get left behind.

There is plenty more to read here and on our homepage, including a look at the modelling which suggests targeted protection against COVID-19 will be more effective than blanket measures.

As always, thank you for reading and mā te wā.

Debrin Foxcroft

Deputy New Zealand Editor

Accident or medical, new research shows we need to treat conditions equally to get people back to work

Michelle Cameron, University of Waikato

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