ACC has been working closely with suppliers to understand and minimise the impact for clients, and to ensure those with the highest need still receive the essential services they require. Suppliers are exhausting all options available to them to provide continued support. This may include a change of support worker, day or time of care, offering more hours to vaccinated staff, reallocating support workers providing low level care to high needs clients (if they have the required skill set), engaging with family/whānau members to provide temporary support, and approaching other suppliers for temporary support. Contingency plans to support clients if IHCS suppliers can’t provide the necessary support are being created. This includes, but is not limited to, contacting suppliers of other services to understand their capacity to fill in any gaps in care for vulnerable clients. What does this mean for General Practice? In the first instance, ACC will work with suppliers to put alternative care plans in place. However, if all options have been exhausted:
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ACC expects the contracted IHCS supplier will seek DHB support. If unsuccessful, the IHCS supplier or ACC Recovery Team member will ask the client’s GP to decide whether admission to hospital is needed. If this is the case, ACC would look for DHBs to accommodate the request in acute situations.
This is likely to be a stressful and worrying time for clients and their family/whānau who may reach out to their general practice for reassurance and support. Because this is an evolving situation, ACC has highlighted the possibility of GP involvement in this process and will keep us updated if things continue to change. Paul Abernethy is our main contact point for you in relation to this issue. If you have any queries, please get in touch with him at paul.abernethy@acc.co.nz