Media Release
9 November 2009
For immediate release

Rural Women New Zealand says ACC travel cuts short-sighted

Rural Women New Zealand is disappointed at the recent decision by ACC to cut travel payments to home-based support workers.

“The decision to remove payments for the first 20kms travelled by a support worker to an ACC client will inevitably adversely impact on delivery of services to the rural sector,” says RWNZ health spokesperson, Marie Appleton.

Rural workers feature particularly highly in workforce accident statistics due to the physical nature of their work.

“The travel cost cuts will lead to a shortage of rural home care workers due to the kilometers they have to travel which will no longer be reimbursed. It will hit them in the pocket, particularly with the higher costs of fuel,” says Mrs Appleton.

Rural Women New Zealand believes the move is short sighted and will end up costing the government more.

“It will make it even harder to recruit homecare workers, and will result in longer hospital stays if people cannot go home without support.”

ENDS

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