ACC

Police have admitted there were things they should have done better to ensure the validity of search warrants used to search the homes of two Dunedin ACC claimants.

Alex Knewstubb, of Port Chalmers, defends the ACC system.

Dunedin ACC campaigner Dr Denise Powell is urging the country's medical system and ACC to improve their handling of traumatic brain injuries after a major report warned they were at "epidemic levels".

ACC must change its approach to a controversial blanket consent form, given criticisms in a recent report and from a district court judge, Dunedin lawyer Peter Sara says.

ACC staff are on the receiving end of a growing number of threats to the organisation, with one client saying his case manager "was lucky he didn't shoot her".

Recent reports on a major privacy breach at ACC will help overcome problems with a controversial claimant consent form and restore fair play, Dunedin ACC campaigner Dr Denise Powell believes.

The level of permanent disability among the injured, including those not admitted to hospital for their injury, has surprised University of Otago researchers.

Three of four doctors in the spotlight this week for performing high numbers of assessments for ACC are based in Otago.

Only a tiny minority of former long-term ACC clients have gained full-time work after being removed from the scheme, a national survey indicates.

The new ACC board has been welcomed by BusinessNZ, with chief executive Phil O'Reilly hoping the debate will restart about competition for the corporation.