The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

ACC has asked the College to relay the following message: “From Monday 16 August, people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, will be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor, to ensure their safety and wellbeing. (See attached press release at www.acc.co.nz/news for details). While these changes do not alter the process of deciding who qualifies for ACC cover, or how they will subsequently be helped, they do ensure everyone has support while their status and needs are assessed. GPs can assist this process on behalf of patients with a possible mental injury arising from sexual abuse by doing the following:

• Submit an ACC45 on behalf of the patient, as this must be done before the support sessions can begin

• Explain to the patient that the support sessions may be available, and assist patient to find a suitable counsellor (a list of ACC-registered sexual abuse counsellors can be found at http://www.acc.co.nz/making-a-claim/what-support-can-i-get/registered-counsellors/index.htm).

Details of how the support sessions will be administered are still being developed, and will be forwarded to GPs as they become available.”