ACC clients ‘swamp-dwellers’ under new policy

Tuesday, 16 February 2010, 3:46 pm Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party

ACC clients renamed ‘swamp-dwellers’ under new tough love approach

Injured New Zealanders will be appalled by the culture change taking place at ACC which has been advised to be less ‘customer-focused’ to begin ‘draining the swamp’ of ACC clients, says Labour’s acting ACC spokesperson Maryan Street.

‘The information is contained in two reports released to Labour under the Official Information Act, as part of its Government-directed ‘Value For Money Review’ and explains why increasing numbers of injured New Zealanders are suffering extremely shoddy treatment from the corporation and being declined cover they are entitled to.

 “The reports, prepared for the new ACC board last year, say ACC had ‘moved too far towards customer focus’ and needed to begin ‘tightening the gateway by reducing the level and costs of treatment provided – especially rationalising the range of services available’.

“Perhaps the most disturbing example of the callous new approach however is the phrase used in the Morrison Low report to the ACC board which talks about the need to ‘significantly cut back to essential and core (services) – effectively draining the swamp,” Maryan Street says.

“So ACC staff are now being encouraged to view ACC clients as swamp-dwellers? It’s not only offensive, it’s a very disturbing example of the type of culture now pervading ACC.

“And what happens if staff fail to adopt the new ‘tough love’ approach (another phrase being used)? The reports make that clear. If they don’t turn down enough claim applications they will get the sack.

“One report says ‘there is a need for ACC to adopt more business/insurance-like behaviours…this may mean changes in the staffing and skills mix’ and ‘the introduction of stronger performance management mechanisms’.

“These reports raise serious questions about exactly what is going on at ACC and what staff are being directed to do. The public has a right to know how the ‘gateway’ is being tightened and exactly what services ACC staff are now being instructed to refuse to provide.”

The Function of Feelings

In previous posts I have discussed that feelings have the function of signaling to us important information about our experience and our environment. In order to respond appropriately to your feelings you have to

1. recognise what the feeling is telling you. This is obviously an important step because often our feelings about experiences today are coloured and influenced by experiences from the past. It is vital to separate these two out from each other.
2. respond  properly to the message your feeling is giving you. Too often emotions are felt and expressed but not responded to. There is little point in regretting something you have done unless that feeling of regrets helps you change your future behaviour. There is little point in feeling frustrated unless you make and effort to attain your desired outcome.

Read more here

Feelings and Intimacy

When I went through my material about feelings and emotions, I came across a little article I had for many years in my posession. I like it so much that I am going to copy it here for you. The article is signed "Sister Maurice Boody, Office of New Directions, 2341 University Avenue, Bronx, New York 10458 – 15.2.74 E.G. Wishart"

"If we want to be loved we must reveal ourselves. If we want to love someone they must allow us to know them.

As obvious as this may be many of us go through life avoiding such disclosure. In fact, most of us practice concealment by playing roles. We claim to have certain feelings which we actually do not have, we profess to be loving when we're full of hostility, calm – – when in reality anxiety is nearly overwhelming us, and to believe in things when in truth we do not.

Read more here

Feelings: Your Very Own Search Engine

We live in an information rich time. 50 years ago, if you wanted to travel through Europe and Asia to visit Kathmandu, you were limited to information from a travel agent or your local library. Nowadays you get your computer out and just "google it". And you'll find out much more than would have been available in the 60s of the last Century.

The good news is, if you want to find out exactly how your life is going, you don't have to research it in a library or google it.You don't need a computer or broadband access.  All it takes is to listen inside your mind and body to how you are feeling. Feelings are like your very own personal search engine.

Read more here

Feeling Good or Feeling Bad

Have you ever had somebody telling you that they ''feel good" or "feel bad"? A great variant of that is when someone says "Not too bad"!.  I get to hear that all the time. Of course, such utterings don't tell me anything. How bad is bad, or how good is good? And what on earth is "not too bad"?

Emotions are not just a handful of feelings. There are hundreds of feelings and distinctions that, when used wisely, communicate very well how people are feeling. In order to be understood and helped by a friend, partner, or therapist, you need to let the person know what kind of good or what kind of bad you are feeling.

Read more here

Understanding Feelings

Many theories about feelings exists and it can be a little bit confusing to make sense of all the different opinions (see Wikipedia). I am going to present a view that is informed by NLP and has proven useful in my practice over the years.

Stripped to the bare bones we can say that feelings are just information. They are feedback that informs people about their experiences.

Seeing feelings in this light, it doesn’t make sense to label them good or bad. They just are. Feelings tell you something about what is going on around you and propel you to take action. The following is a schematic view of how feelings come about. 

Continue reading here

Emotional Literacy

How do you know that you are using your emotions most effectively in your life? You will be on your way to emotional choice when you are able to experience a wide range of emotions and you begin to understand what each of these emotions communicates to you. The crucial point could well be to see emotions as meaningful information about how to improve your life rather than seeing them as random blows delivered to you by a hostile environment. (Click on the picture to see an enlarged wheel of emotions).Continue reading here