Ms Magowan, who was forced to have part of her left leg amputated after a wrong diagnosis in 2020, says she has been waiting nearly four years for an accessible bathroom in her Invercargill house but the ACC seems powerless to do anything.
The ACC said multiple building proposals had been developed, together with its building supplier but these plans have been questioned by Ms Magowan.
It was still working with her and understood it must be a "difficult time for her".
Ms Magowan said her leg started hurting during the pandemic lockdown and she sought medical advice.
Initial reports from doctors did not correctly identify what was happening, causing her to require multiple vesicular interventions, but they did not work. After months of pain, in October 2020, her left leg was amputated below the knee.
Since then she had been constantly frustrated with the inability to get her bathroom modified. No-one seemed to take charge.
"It was supposed to be modified in a timely fashion. Now three and a-half years later we are still waiting. I am forced to go to a Portaloo outside, and we are heading into winter," she said.
After two and a-half years of waiting, drawings were agreed and the council building consent was approved, she said.
"We had the contract approved and then nothing happened for 18 months.
"Architectural drawings were repeatedly incorrect, details [were] incorrect and because I do not have the right to receive the drawings as a matter of routine, there have been delays associated with me finding this out and querying it, to get it corrected."
She said builders constantly did not stick to deadlines and left her with no faith in their ability to do the job.
ACC deputy chief executive for service delivery Amanda Malu said she understood the challenges and difficulties Ms Magowan was facing.
The ACC continued to support her through weekly compensation, pain management, psychological support, home help, medical treatments and modified fitness and recreation equipment.
A housing assessment was done in 2021. It could not be sooner, as Ms Magowan was considering moving.
Minor housing modifications were done including handrails, outdoor lighting, electric gates and other equipment.
But the ACC and Ms Magowan cannot agree on what the inside bathroom should look like.
"Melanie advised she wasn’t happy with the permanent housing modifications proposed, following the initial assessment, and since then, we’ve been working with her to discuss ongoing additional requests and concerns, which have resulted in delays to work commencing," Ms Malu said.
"In that time, multiple updated building proposals have been developed, together with our building supplier Enable NZ, but these plans have also been questioned. Melanie has also advised she isn’t happy with the builder engaged to complete this work."
The ACC acknowledged she had to go outside to her bathroom but a building assessor said it was not possible to create a temporary shower unit within the current bathroom, which was safe, accessible and barrier-free.
"We are in regular communication with Melanie about plans for permanent housing modifications. A further assessment was completed earlier this year, and we are working to get updated building plans and engage a builder to complete the work," Ms Malu said.
