If you suspect you or someone you know has FND, the ball starts with your GP, or a visit to E.D during an attack.

If there is a history of injury, trauma or abuse, ACC has a list of therapists available, and a claim may be applied for.  This is a long way around a diagnosis, so it's better to start with your G.P, and a referral to Nuerology.

Once a diagnosis has been obtained, discussion around a treatment plan is necessary.

Start this talk with your G.P and Specialist. 

Let's get real here, this is largely up to you to follow up and increment, if this is not possible to do by yourself, then engage an advocate to represent your best interests and wellbeing.

If this is an ACC Claim, then there are services that ACC are obliged to provide.

If this is not an ACC claim, or not yet, then your G.P can refer you to NASC home help services, Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy if required, etc. The DHB should cover most of this, until an ACC claim is lodged.

This should not mean a denial of services if urgent care is required, it should mean that the DHB communicates with ACC about your claim and requirements. Hospitalisation may be required in some instances.

It is important that you keep persuing the treatment plan, and FND gets worse as time goes on, to become a chronic (over time) condition. 

Early treatment can help slow the escalation of FND.

If you are unable to work, or faced with costs because of your disability, WINZ are surprisingly awesome at support of this nature.

There is the disability allowance, and additional costs may be met, although recoverable.

Talk with WINZ. Their position is that they are aware that service failure re ACC and DHB happens sometimes, and although they are not medical professionals, they end up footing the bill. As a result, with your permission, WINZ has a team available that will 'go to bat' for you. They will, with your permission, contact the health providers to ensure you are getting everything you actually need to manage on a daily basis. 

WINZ also has the ability to call upon NGO Support re housing, and they take environment re PTSD and FND very seriously.

With WINZ and a new FND diagnosis, a period of at least 2 years of 3 monthly medical certificates will be required before consideration for Living Cost Allowance. Once on that allowance, a medical certificate is required annually.

The amounts that they can offer in support are variable, and trying to place them here today will do no one any favours, as things change regularly. The picture to the left will link you to WINZ health and disability information page.

My best advice is call them - 0800 559 009

This can prove to be a daunting task for many people. ACC has many forms and processes, all of which depend on reports from specialists before treatment is supplied. 

These reports and appointments with specialists can take months if not years.

Do not let this discourage you though, as the end result should be that you have the care you need, and any Loss Of Potential Earnings calculated, and incapacity assessments done too.

For FND, ACC should have a Special Needs Assessment done, to ensure the correct percentage of health issues and care are sttributable to the Covered FND Claim.  If There are issues, there are courses of action to take.

One is to use an advocacy service. Ironically paid by ACC, these guys understand the ACC system, and can help make sense of it or even represent you, as sometimes, all this guff and palava can trigger things.... you know what I mean?

The picture to the left should link you to ACC's page on what to do if you're 'injured', meaning if you think you may have a claim.

For me my FND is covered under what is called a SENSITIVE CLAIM, contact ACC to discuss your situation, as each indiviual case requires individual assessment to enable proper care as a result.

CALL ACC TOLL FREE ON 0800 101 996

Wayfinders provide an ACC funded advocacy service, to help with the navigation of ACC processes.

They can be confusing at times if your claim is complex, whcih FND often is.

With Advocacy, you can talk with your Advocate and ask questions, they can represent you and perhaps get some answers.

Great people who are well experienced with ACC process, policies, and programs.

DHB - Department of Health Board, or, the hospital, the public health services, the home help, etc.

These guys have the neurologists you need to see if you cant afford private care, the physiotherapists, the emergency department, the radiology for all the xrays that show nothing is broken, the weird blood tests, etc.

If you end up DIAGNOSED in E.D or hospital, they should provide the care and equipement you need, including social services and respite care if required.

These services will be available until an ACC claim is accepted, and sometimes even afterwards.

NASC is a department of the DHB, and they provide assessment for your needs at home should you need home help.

The picture to left will link you to a complete list of local DHB services links within NZ.

YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DHB BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL

When treatment isnt forcoming, or you have suffered service failure, our back up is the Health and Disability Commisioner.

They can provide an advocate to hear whats happening or not happening, inform you of your rights and if the have been breached, and advise on what to do next.

They can also represent you when it comes to the other ministries, except ACC.

HDC cannot take on ACC service failure, as ACC has their own process for this, called a P.O.S.S.E - its a complaint process that seeks further compensation or payment out of scope of ordinary payments ACC would make.  It also prompts some quicker turn around for treatment plans.

What HDC can do, is take on Medical Malpractice or Breach of patient rights outside of ACC.

To the left is the HDC website, and it should land on the Patients Rights Act.

YOU CAN ASK FOR AN ADVOCATE TO CONTACT YOU TO HELP TOLL FREE ON 0800 555 050

You can call or text this number any time in NZ.

If you're having a down moment, and just need to talk, call these guys if you have noone available. 

They are qualified counsellors and therapists, can are trained in talking and dealing with a huge range of mental health issues and depression.

THIS SERVICE IS FREE, YOU CAN CALL OR TEXT ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT

Prevention of FND could include early support of a victim of criminal activity.

These people are here to help, and have the ability to follow up and connect you with helpful resources and services.