National Council

This was my first foray into the RNZRSA National Council and its accompanying forums and seminars. It was hard work, but enjoyable, mainly because I was able to meet and talk to many of those Welfare Officers, Presidents, Secretaries and others who had previously just been disembodied voices at the end of a phone line.

I also picked up some work in the shape of someone wanting me to take over the advocacy of one of his clients. The appeal will come before the War Pensions Appeal Board in the next few months, and will be a challenge due to its complexity.

Speaking of the Appeal Board there will be a new face on it. The VANZ appointed doctor is on the move over the ditch, and will be replaced. Up to press I do not have the name of the new person nor any details. I will keep you posted. Our best wishes go to John Faris for his future health and happiness, and our thanks for all his sterling work on the War Pensions Appeal Board where his expertise and knowledge have been invaluable.

The Pensions & Welfare Forum went off well with information being imparted from the panel on the stage on matters affecting War Disablement Pensions, Case Management for veterans and their families, RSA welfare, District Health Boards and disability services. One of the panellists, Carol Searle, Deputy Director-General of Disability Services at the Ministry of Health had us all standing up and doing exercises to help reduce the risk of breaking the neck of the femur, which will always necessitates major surgery. Surgery is not what you want to have in your mature years unless you have to. Perhaps you could ask your delegates to show you the moves!

The question and answer session brought questions concerning Vietnam and Operation Grapple and the recent McLeod Report concerning the health of the children of those veterans. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health is to look into the report, in conjunction with information that has come to light concerning the areas of Vietnam where New Zealanders worked and lived, and whether they were in direct line of fire when Agent Orange was being sprayed to defoliate the jungle.

There were queries on RSA involvement on District Health Boards. The RSA needs to ensure that its voice is heard on these Boards in relation to schemes and projects concerning older people and disabled people. Also, how best to get your entitlements to disability services and equipment.

The bad news from the Government speakers at National Council, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs was that the Veteran’s Health Card, as it was put forward by the RNZRSA, is not going to happen “at this time”. This is in spite of the hard work put into the RNZRSA’s submission, and the follow up queries that have been sent to successive ministers. However, the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs is looking for other options to the Health Card and how best to serve the veteran community in this respect without breaking the piggy bank.

From the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs speech it was evident that the main option that is being considered is to do with the new Primary Health Organisations (PHO). These are slowly covering the whole country, and in some areas reductions in doctors’ and other health professionals’ fees are already available. This is especially the case if you live in one of the less well off areas of New Zealand.

If I understand the Minister correctly Veterans Affairs will be looking at ways that they can make use of the PHO concept in relation to veterans to help reduce the veterans’ expenditure on health needs, as well as provide the better integrated health service that the PHOs offer. Watch this space.

The good news is that they promised an investigation into the reduction of the percentage of War Disablement Pension required for those over retirement age to be able to change to a Veteran’s Pension and all its benefits. This would also mean that the Community Service Card, without any worry about income and asset testing, would be available to more veterans. Further, the RNZRSA assumes that this reduction in the percentage would allow more spouses and partners of deceased veterans to claim Surviving Spouse’s Pension. RNZRSA National Councils have long requested this change to the Veteran’s Pension from successive Governments, and it may now be coming to fruition. RNZRSA will let you know through the RSA Review what the details of the changes are as soon as they become available.