Support for low income access to physios essential
The Government must put in place additional support for people on low incomes who would otherwise not be able to access physiotherapy services when part-charges are introduced in November, Labour’s health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.
“There is no doubt financial cost will be a barrier to some when it comes to accessing early rehabilitation for injuries, particularly in these difficult economic times.
“Struggling households will baulk at coughing up much needed cash for physiotherapy treatment, opting instead to put up with the pain. But all the evidence makes it clear early treatment increases the chance of effective rehabilitation,” Ruth Dyson says.
“A refusal by the Government to ensure low income people can access the treatment required will only result in people languishing, injured and untreated and unable to work for longer than necessary.
“There are likely to be a number of other ramifications for people, working or otherwise, who can’t afford early access to treatment.
“For instance, falls by older New Zealanders cause a huge number of injuries and there could be many quite serious consequences for injured pensioners unable to afford early treatment, for what began as a relatively simple injury.
“Not only is people’s quality of life likely to be more negatively affected, but they are in some cases more likely to seek other entitlements from ACC - or seek them for longer - for services such as home help, transport or childcare while the injury persists,” says Ruth Dyson.
“Such scenarios are real and could see taxpayers’ eventually paying out more for the cost of an injury in the long-run – resulting in a classic ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’ attempt to save money, which we’ve seen National do many times before.
“Labour does not disagree that some reform of the physiotherapy entitlements provided by ACC is necessary, but does not support policy changes which create long-term pain for short-term gain.”
