ACC Minister Nick Smith has asked the corporation for a report into an incident where one of its staffers was abusive toward a man with a speech impediment following a phone discussion about a claim.The Auckland man, Stewart Lind, who has no tongue after
ACC Minister Nick Smith has asked the corporation for a report into an incident where one of its staffers was abusive toward a man with a speech impediment following a phone discussion about a claim.
The Auckland man, Stewart Lind, who has no tongue after it was removed a few years ago due to a tumour, said he took a call from an ACC staffer wanting more time to process his claim for hernia surgery, and he in turn queried why it was taking so long.
Mr Lind told TV3 the woman, who struggled to understand him during the conversation, appeared not to have hung up the phone properly following the call and he overheard her launch into an expletive-laden tirade to a work colleague about him and his impediment.
He said he had written to Prime Minister John Key and Dr Smith complaining about the incident and that he considered the woman should lose her job.
TV3 said ACC issued a statement saying it wanted to apologise unreservedly to Mr Lind for the unprofessional manner in which he was treated.
