In the wake of being at SOSA yesterday I have had only a couple of hours sleep and was sitting here thinking of trying to jot down a short blog regarding what I believe to be the great success of all involved.
However, I ended up surfing the net and quite quickly found the following article:
ACC and mental health
Sunday Star - Times; Wellington, New Zealand, May 23, 2010
YOUR ARTICLE "Rape victim says ACC cut her lifeline'' (May 16) was misleading. The client, Danielle Martin, has had almost 300 counselling sessions and total support from ACC worth over $65,000. However, she has a range of mental health issues, some of which are separate from and predate those caused by the sexual abuse she experienced. But it is nearly impossible to separate out complex mental health issues and treat them separately. That's why we believe she would be better helped by a multi-disciplinary approach from a team able to deal with all of the issues. So we have worked with the Auckland District Health Board to find a place for her at Segar House. She will still be able to get counselling there. ACC has not cut off her lifeline; we have offered her a better one.
Also, it was suggested this situation is connected to ACC's new clinical pathway for managing sexual abuse claims. Ms Martin's case predates the introduction of the pathway, and she is being managed under the old system. Lastly, it was suggested Ms Martin may be suicidal. If that is the case, the onus is on her counsellor or other treatment providers to put in place arrangements to secure her safety. There are set protocols for doing this that they will be well familiar with. The same applies to anyone a health professional feels may be considering self-harm.
Denise Cosgrove General manager, Claims management, ACC #SRC#
* The article didn't suggest she was being dealt with under the clinical pathway. It was understood she was being dealt with under the old system. - Editor
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/sunday-star-times-wellington-new-zealand/mi_8185/is_20100523/acc-mental-health/ai_n53780842/
I know that I opened myself up for public opinion and debate by putting part of my story out there with the Article in the Sunday Star Times.
Reading this leaves me crying, and wondering who is this Denise Cosgrove?
- How did she get the figure of $65,000 for counselling? For the most part I believe the subsidy to be $76 per session, the correct number of sessions is actually closer to 240 (with a v.small amount of these being time with a Psychatrist at a different amount, less than 20), I would think that would possibly be somewhere in the region of $20,000, maybe, if that (and about $5,000 of my own money).
- Why has a representative of ACC written or said something basically trying to de-construct or misrepresent me, my story and my claim? Why have they had time to do this but they have had no time or made any effort to respond privately or publicly with any solutions or supportive comments for me?
- How has "Denise Cosgrove from ACC" been able to speak (inaccurately) about me publically when I only signed a short-term privacy release for ACC to speak directly to Tim Hume (Reporter @ Sunday Star Times)
- I challenge the LIE that ACC has had any interaction with Segar House regarding my care, or a 'transfer' to this ADHB service.
- I resent the implication that I or my treatment providers are not taking due care around any feelings of depression or suicidality that I may have.
There are many more questions whirling around inside my head. I believe this is most likely another breach of my privacy by ACC making UNTRUE statements again about me without my permission to an unauthorised source. I feel so nauseaus just trying to comprehend what this woman has written I have to stop writing.
What else is out there that ACC has tried to insinuate about me? Should I just have kept my mouth shut and never tried to deal with the rape and trauma and kept trying to swallow the pain?
Very confused right now :(
That makes me so angry! What right did that woman have to discuss your case publically? I think it's disgusting - no better than what Paula Bennett did to those two beneficiaries. Have you considered making a complaint?
ReplyDeleteHi Annelise
ReplyDeleteMade me angry too, and upset and even more confused.
UPDATE
I spoke to Tim Hume, the reporter that wrote the article in Sunday Star Times. I emailed him the link to the above article while I was speaking to him and he said that he hadn't even seen it before.
SO
(1) The privacy release of information that I signed specificly and only said that conversation or information could be shared through TIM HUME (there was a limited time frame specified but I don't have the document with me)
(2) I still think kindly of Tim Hume for the way in which he wrote the article, but from the word go (after a phone conversation with Louise Nicholas) I asked for 'final cut' editting rights (I read but changed nothing btw) on whatever was written about me. We shook on this. It does seem quite obvious to me that this letter/article is published in someway through the Sunday Star Times. I feel a little betrayed to only have just found out now about something about myself so personal put online by the same paper that I had been assured of final reading/edit rights, Louise told me to get this in writing and I didn't, and I see now that by publishing this document separately has that meant there is no need to double-check the facts, there a NINE FACTUAL LIES written by Denise.
I also spoke to SEGAR HOUSE
Segar House basically has never heard of me apart from through these articles. They to the best of their knowledge have no files, referals, notes, any pieces of paper even with my name on them. They confirmed to me today that:
" So we have worked with the Auckland District Health Board to find a place for her at Segar House. She will still be able to get counselling there. ACC has not cut off her lifeline; we have offered her a better one" (quote from Denise Cosgrove, Claims Manager, ACC),
was something they had NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
Are they just the big organisation who can say WHATEVER they (ACC) want to say about me publicly, knowing too well my nose-dive in functioning over the last few months without my subsidised care, that I, Just A Girl, In The World, am powerless but to cry into my pillow.
What else to do.
I think this is grossly unprofessional and quite frankly a cowardly act and all this is coming from ACC's former General Manager of People and Business (Communications, Legal and Marketing).
ReplyDeleteDanielle, no matter what people like Ms Cosgrove say, what you are doing standing up against their decisions surrounding Sensitive Claims is definitely the right thing to do and very admirable. All the power to you.
I was not sure whether I should post this comment or whether my comments are helpful to your well-being, but after re-reading this blog entry (a couple of times) and thinking about what Ms Cosgrove has said, it has really annoyed me.
Thank you for your words and I appreciate that you take the time to read my words and journey.
ReplyDeleteI get very confused since my functionality has gotten worse about all manner of things, so external feedback on stuff that I am trying to understand helps me get some perspective on my own feelings.
P.S - It's 'annoyed' me too!
OK thanks. Next time I will put "pissed off" ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have always been a bit paranoid about saying or doing something and breaking something or hurting people.
Considering the content I suppose I do enjoy reading your blogs and from them I know you are still with us. Don't give up.
I know I only know you from a newspaper article and your blogs and the occasional peck at Twitter (sorry)... But you seem a kind, caring and good person. Keep up your good work. (Sorry, I am hopeless at compliments.)
Wow... I can't believe ACC put this out there - and from one of their key people. What happened to confidentiality, not talking about individual cases and basic respect for another human being?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this happened to you... It's wrong, so very wrong.
Have you got an ACC advocate that can take this up for you?
Take care,
CG
I found your blog via twitter. I just wanted to let you know how much I feel for you. Thanks for sharing your journey and letting people know how the ACC is treating victims of rape and sexual assault. I'm so sorry all this has happened to you, and I wish you all the best. xo
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you can write about this , I am assuming you are finding it cathartic as I do to write the feelings down
ReplyDeleteI will say it sounds like ACC dont understand that mental health is an illness and you need to recover fully , yes sometimes other illnesses contribute to an illness and were there first but that doesnt mean the problem goes away it just means they need to treat the other illnesses as well to make sure the actual illness they are treating gets fully treated .
Using a more concrete example they wouldn't leave a melanoma there if you were in chemo if it was there first just they cleared the cancer in your breasts - the reasoning they are using is the same - just because it is mental illness doesnt make it any different
Keep your head held high , i KNOW it is hard to be strong so let those of us who care about you help you to keep your head above the water :o) ((HUGS))
I am livid ... ACC will always have a "right to reply" to anything "published" about them as do YOU Danielle. What pisses me off is the newspaper. They are the ones that decide what's published... this article certainly has a "right to reply" tone to it because no one contacted your for that infamous "balance in the story." However, when you wrote YOUR piece, they DID have a right to reply.
ReplyDeleteI would sent this article immediately to the Broadcasting Complaints Authority - the paper has printed FALSE details about you. It's the paper's JOB to get this crap right.
Then I would go ACC under the privacy act dolls.
Man, I'm just so... feel a tourettes moment coming on!
Denis Cosgrove did not slag you, get it right
ReplyDelete1 She said thast ACC had spent over $65,000 on you, not necessarily on counselling.
@ As for Segar House, you have blooged in the last few blogs about being directed to Segar House by ACC.
Now who is being "economical" with the truth here"
How about telling us what ACC did provide for you for a start and why you are resisting their sugesstions.
Why dont you just tell the whole truth instead of airbrushing out the bits you dont like.
ReplyDeleteYou were given an offer of Segar House but instead you disparage it as "Rainbows End"
Also Denise Cosgrove made comment yes, but with all the spiel you have been blogging and twitting, it's not hard to get "quotes" from you now is it.
Think about it, and take the offer instead of going round in circles like a dog chasing it's tail.
Wow, I can only guess those last few comments were from ACC. OUCH Danielle, I hope the Review Team read your blog to see just what ACC have been up too and lack of any MORALS OR ETHICS.
ReplyDeleteDenise said "So we have worked with the Auckland District Health Board to find a place for her at Segar House. She will still be able to get counselling there." Danielle is not the lier here! HAVE ACC IN FACT CONTACTED ADHB OR SEGAR HOUSE TO ARRANGE A BED?? We all know you want her to go to Segar House which is totally the WRONG place for her as her own treatment team have told you all.
Hang in there Danielle! I know how ACC has in fact caused you MUCH grief. I feel some class legal action coming ACC's way as a result of this pathway in the not to distance future.
Please look after yourself. We love having you around! x
You stand up for what is right for you!.... Set backs will happen as will people trying to Discourage you on your journey ...but the goal of your well being is with in your grasp as is the right to reclaim your identity... you have supporters ...never doubt that.
ReplyDeleteI think I should comment here and I do understand people are entitled to their opinions, we are a free country and it is easy to air them on the internet... I am doing it right now. I am not trying to start a comment war on Danielle’s blog; this is my own opinion and may not be shared by others or even Danielle herself. If you want to reply to me and slag me off, my email is in my profile.
ReplyDeleteDenise Cosgroves statement above is a reply to Danielle newspaper article back in May, which was published over a month ago. I get the feeling from the content of the reply and medium Ms Cosgrove chose this may not be an official ACC communication. However I cannot prove that, but I do know government departments are very paranoid about their public communications. If I am correct it could be quite embarrassing for Ms Cosgrove and ultimately ACC. But it does seem strange to me that the reply is not in a newspaper or on the official website which seems to be standard practise for government departments. Whether I am right or wrong, there is also the issue of airing information which may be considered private and needs consent to publish.
Correct me if I am wrong, but ACC have only offered ‘options’ after cutting the subsidised therapy, not before and never a referral. On the assumption that ACC have done all they can for Danielle and others on Sensitive Claims, which I see is grossly incorrect, the real issue here is they cut the funding of treatment in the first place. I know you can argue whether it was effective or not, but since Danielle has come out publically, it obviously shows her commitment to wanting to live a normal life and stand up to something she believes as wrong. This will be an extremely difficult thing to do, much more difficult than most people could imagine.
Danielle has done a very brave thing going public. I for one was unaware of the plight of a survivor of sexual abuse and what they go through on a daily basis. Now that I am aware I am a supporter of Danielle and her cause and wish her all the best on the journey to get well and I sincerely hope her actions today and in the future save others in her current situation. Quite frankly, abuse of any kind is not something we should put up with or ignore as people’s lives are at risk. As a nation, we consider ourselves compassionate people. Should we be offering offer the best possible help and support within the resources available to survivors of sexual abuse?
I would prefer, if the figure is correct, $65,000 of my tax dollars spent on the health care of a survivor of sexual abuse than the money spent on a politician’s credit card and diplomatic transport and taxis to get a haircut.
Bit of a rant wasn’t it?
Well, I'm guessing if they are not saying the money was spend on counselling are they saying the BULK was spent on their people in SUITS... their admin staff and managers etc. And now that is somehow YOUR problem that they can't work more cost effectively! Well, this is the problem with ACC on the whole.... more money gets spent on these people than front line support services. Makes me mad! Sorry Danielle I didn't mean to rant on your blog..... but seriously what is there problem trying to blame you!
ReplyDeleteOOOOH I just want to throw stuff! Jax... Tourettes is soooo something I feel coming on also. I just think that the sensitive claims Unit should be sensitive to our needs and our situations and our feelings. Have they been through what we have? Not that I can see. So, I see some people from ACC have decided to berate you on here. Cowards. Danielle... keep up the fight girl, I understand where you are coming from and so do many other people under ACC's sensitive care. Sensitive my butt! Anyway I really hate the lies, and I really am so upset that segar house has never even heard of you or been asked to have you referred. I think do what Jax says. They want to shut you up. Don't give in!
ReplyDeleteI'm in a moment of transition right now but so help me, once settled in the heart throb of my new city, I and a few other like-minded people, will sit down with the scrolls of information from the recent SOSA summit, and by golly, we will get to the bottom of this!
ReplyDeleteYou lean on us as much as you bloody well need Danielle. Here, take my crutches cause I can walk real tall and fast when I'm this livid. Man, anger is a fantastic motivational tool. I might just stay pissed off for the rest of my life!