Wairarapa godsend 'saved my life'

The future is looking brighter for Featherston man and neurotoxicity sufferer Allan Payne after a desperate battle with ACC.

After 10 months' correspondence, he is now receiving weekly compensation for claims he lodged related to his condition, and says he is extremely grateful to a Masterton man who advocated for him.

Mike Dixon-McIver read about Mr Payne in the Times Age in April and offered help, which quickly led to a resolution.

Mr Payne was diagnosed in 2001 with solvent-induced neurotoxicity from at least 18 years working as a spraypainter, and in October 2013 lodged claims for carpal tunnel, depression and work-related hip pain.

Caused by exposure to certain organic solvents, the disorder insidiously affects the nervous system over time. It can also affect motor skills, brain function and indirectly cause structural damage to the body.

Clinically depressed, Mr Payne was at the end of his tether, with bills piling up and sometimes going hungry, when he met Mr Dixon-McIver.

"He knew which people to go to, without him I wouldn't be here. He's been a godsend, he saved my life."

Mr Payne said this Christmas was looking better than last year's for his family and they were even able to get a few presents.

Since April, he has had his hips replaced at Wairarapa Hospital and is on medication for depression. It helps but he still has his bad days.

He still has major pain and needs treatment for other issues caused by the disorder. "I've been in for other tests and my joints are buggered, the X-rays show the soft tissues are gone."

Mr Payne said he was grateful to surgeon Jeremy Earl and the orthopaedic team, as well as the community who had helped, including Pioneer Bakery and Adamsons Service Station.

He said his experience with ACC had been horrific and he had no job to return to. He was still trying to get some treatments covered by ACC, which had just sent him "back to work" forms.

Mr Dixon-McIver said the focus was now on getting the right treatments: "He's had some very intense examinations and tests that should have happened years ago."

He said Mr Payne shouldn't have returned to work when first diagnosed and shouldn't have had a 10-month wait. ACC needed to train staff better.

"He's not the average claimant, in his case you can't see his injury but it is so debilitating.

"There is such a lack of empathy, the actions of ACC show a lack of insight and understanding a claimant like Allan and his circumstances."

Mr Dixon-McIvor fought his own battle with ACC, going on a 50-day hunger strike outside its Wellington offices last year to force a settlement after it unsuccessfully took him to court for fraud.

The case was thrown out, but Mr Dixon-McIver went on the hunger strike after ACC refused to mediate over damages. He eventually received an undisclosed settlement.

He now receives calls from around New Zealand asking for help.