Recommendations to ACC and the Minister

Let's be utterly clear ol this ACC issue.   The have made multiple blunders and we only hear about the big ones.  How many others have they made that have been kept internal?  And what's the real issue?  It's not that ACC have made these blunders, they can be fixed.  What can't be fixed is the mental and physical state of the claimants that have had their Private and Confidential files exposed to the wrong people.

Right now, my real concern is that by being such a damaging organisation, ACC are driving their clients to a state whereby mental and physical distress is evident, thereby costing the country even more in both a financial and mental status.  And how many of those clients are close to giving it all away?  If one person commits suicide because they can't handle the stress these blunders are causing then there is only one option for the Government, and more importantly the people of New Zealand and that's a Royal Commission of Inquiry.  Peoples lives are at rest, and that's the crux.

So what do I want to see?  Firstly there is grounds for an inquiry, so that is a given.  Secondly and Indepedent Review Panel needs to be set up to monitor and report on the state of claimants/clients to assess the mental and physical state of people affected by these blunders.  And thirdly, ACC needs to review internal policy so these blunders don't happen again.  Of course all these would be covered by a Royal Commission, but they are needed.

As for ACC.  Internal procedures have to be implemented.  The first is the double checking of electronic transmission data.  One person will create the electronic transmission data, but something should be put in place to allow that person no chance of transmitting until a superior has vetted the transmission and ok'ed it for release.  Sure this might tie up AC in it's procedures time wise, but as stated, they are playing with peoples lives and the data they have is utterly confidential and needs to be used with the utmost of respect and due diligence.  If it takes another five minutes for checks to be made, it's going to save lives.  You don't go on the water without a life-jacket and that's how ACC (and any other Government organisation handling confidential data) need to think and act.

I hope that these steps are taken.  Seems to me a waste if a claimant decides that there is no hope for them and they aren't receiving fair treatment through ACC for their cause.