Newsletter 5/2018

28th October 2018

NEWSLETTER NO 5.2018

Hi to all.

I have carried out a complete audit of the Medical conditions as reported in the last newsletter. Because of the short timeframe I had to prepare for the DVA meeting I believed that there were a few mistakes and thus the audit. I was correct in my assumption and I can now reveal the full report as follows.

DEFENCE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE

HEALTH STUDY

In this study I sent out survey forms to approximately 300 of our members who served as Defence Firefighters between 1957 up to 2006 where training was carried out on fires containing waste liquid and solid fuels. I received 128 returns which accounted for 520 recorded conditions.

I have listed below only those condition which I believe MAY have been caused from the practice of using contaminated waste, and a Skeletal survey which highlights the injuries which we believe were caused by our extremely heavy workload.

CANCERS 15

RESPIRATORY 10

NEUROLOGICAL 5

SIGHT 7

HEARING 7

MEDICAL 39

SKELETAL 16

I decided to publish the full list for two specific reason.

1.If you have one of these conditions, made a claim and it has been knocked back where others have been accepted you need to consider making another claim. Your rejected claim may fall into a different category as far as symptoms and cause are concerned and I cannot guarantee that it would be accepted the next time however it is well worth considering. Remember to always endorse the first page for any claim with the words, “DEFENCE FIREFIGHTER”.
2.If you have had one of the conditions which has been accepted and not made a claim please do so. It does not matter if you do not have Active service, only had short time service or you were told that it would be rejected by anyone, you ARE entitled to make a claim and only DVA has the right to refuse it. Remember to always endorse the first page for any claim with the words, “DEFENCE FIREFIGHTER”.

I strongly recommend that you use a qualified Advocate to prepare the claim for you. If you do not know of an Advocate in your area either contact any of the following: Local RSL, Local RAAF Association or DVA on Freecall 1800 555 254 or Email : generalenquiries@dva.gov.au.

DVA CONTAMINATION UPDATE.

As you are well aware from my previous Newsletter I was extremely pleased with the Dr Douglas report on the 132 chemicals located at Pt Cook. This report reviewed over 200 chemicals which appear in the text. I wondered at the extra number and on a quick checking found that all of the Pt Cook chemicals appeared to be included. I disregarded the extras because as long as the Pt Cook list was reviewed the rest didn’t matter.

My attention became aroused when I read in a book that two chemicals, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenile produced Agent Orange when mixed in equal portions. I checked the Pt Cook list and established that both were listed. I then checked the list as given in the report by Dr Douglas and found that neither of these two were included. Further cross checking by my wife and I revealed that in fact there are about 70 of the 132 not listed. To say that I am bloody angry with this is a complete understatement.

In 2012 I received a statement from one of our members who wished to remain anonymous that he had copied down the names on several drums and upon investigation found that they were Agent Orange. I will not go into the full details except to say that in an email from Media Operations, Department of Defence 2012 in answer to a question,” Was Agent Orange (245T & 24D) ever burned in the Point Cook fire pit” the response was, “There is no evidence to suggest that Agent Orange was burned at Point Cook”. Obvious this is a blatant lie because the Hansard report had been published prior to this date. I still have the Email evidence of all of the above.

I can only assume that this is a massive cover up and I can report that I have had two lengthy phone conversations with a DVA member in the last week. On several occasions since we first raised this with DVA 2012 I have openly accused them of fobbing us off whenever we raised an issue by stating that, “We will have another study”.

It is obvious that we are being treated with utter contempt not only by DVA but Defence as well. I am giving them three weeks to offer a realistic explanation before I take it to the media in general. I will pass on any response on as soon as I receive it.

DVA (Some good news)

(Copied from a pamphlet as unable to reprint from it.)

Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Trial.

About the trial

Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) is a two year trial introduced as part of the Department Of Veterans Affairs’ Transformation initiatives.

The PAMT trial provides veterans with access to medical treatment for specified conditions while their claim for liability under the Military Rehabilitation Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) or Safety Rehabilitation Compensation (Defence –related claims Act1998 (DRCA) is being processed.

Opening and closing dates of the PAMT trial

The PAMT trial covers claims received from 1 July 2017 to 31 March2019, and closes to new claims on 31 March 2019. Treatment under the PAMT will cease for all claims at 30 June 2019

Who is eligible?

The trial is open to former ADF members, part-time Reservists, and cadets or declared members:

who have or will make a claim for service related injuries or disease under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) or MRCA on or after 2July 2017 and before 1 April 2019; and

whose claim relates to one or more specified condition.

Serving members are ineligible for the trial as their health care needs are the responsibility of the Defence forces. Serving members who discharge prior 1 April 2019 however, are eligible to participate from the date of discharge.

What are the specified conditions?

The PAMT trial provides access to medical treatment for the following 20 specified conditions:

Achilles Tendinopathy and BursitisRotator Cuff SyndromeFracture Cut, Stab, Abrasion and LacerationLumbar SpondylosisDislocation Internal Derangement of the KneeChondromalacia Patella Shin Splits Sensorineural Hearing LossThoracic SpondylosisTinnitus Intervertebral Disc ProlapsePlanter FasciitisOsteoarthritis Non-melanotic Malignant Neoplasm of the SkinSprain and StrainJoint instability Solar KeratosisLabral Tear

Application Process

Access to the PAMT trial is automatic for eligible veterans who have lodged a claim for injury or disease after 1 July 2017 and those who lodge a claim prior to 31 March2019

For claims received between 1 July and 18 June 2018 that have been decline, withdrawn, or in progress, you will receive a letter from DVA advising how to seek reimbursement of the relevant medical expenses privately incurred.

Assessing Treatment

When you lodge a liability claim, you will receive a PAMT Confirmation form included in the letter acknowledging receipt of your claim. This form must be taken to your doctor to discuss and confirm whether the injury or disease that you have claimed meets one or more of the specified conditions. If it does, your doctor will return the completed form to DVA and provide you with a copy.

Your doctor will provide you with referrals to relevant health practitioners for access to the medical treatment required for your specified condition/s. When making an appointment check that your health provider accepts DVA treatment cards.

When attending your appointment ensure you take your completed PAMT Confirmation form and letter of referral with you.

The PAMT Confirmation form, once completed and signed by your doctor, becomes a letter of authority for you to receive medical treatment at DVA expense.

Will I receive a treatment card?

Claims received after 18 June 2018 that meet PAMT eligibility requirements will receive a White Treatment Card. If you already hold a White card, your card will be updated to reflect the PAMT conditions that you have claimed for.

For claims received between 1 July 2017 and 18 June 2018, you can claim medical expenses you have privately incurred for treatment of your specified condition/s by completing a MEPI form. You can find this form at Factsheet HSV64.

When does my access to PAMT cease?

Access to PAMT ceases when your claim for a specified condition is either accepted or denied. If your claim is declined and you then lodge a request for review your access to PAMT will be reinstated.

Regardless of the state of your claim, access to treatment under the PAMT will cease on 30 June 2019 If your providers have received approval from DVA to continue a course of treatment beyond 30 June 2019, then the treatment may continue until the approval ends.

Further information about Treatment and Medical Reimbursements

For further information about the treatment of services available through DVA, the rules and policies governing health care arrangements, and the process to reimburse Medical Expenses Privately Incurred (MEPI) please refer to the following Fact Sheets available on the DVA website.

HSV01 – Health Services Available to the Veteran Community

HSV65 – Medical Treatment while Overseas

HSV61 – DVA Health Card – Specific Conditions (White)

HSV64 – Medical Expenses privately incurred.

CONCLUSION

I had intended holding off with the details regarding the Agent Orange issue until DVA addressed this issue however I now believe that this should be bought out into the open for all. As stated above I am extremely angry because we were informed that Agent Orange was never involved, (a blatant lie) and that the 132 chemicals were reviewed by Dr Douglas. (Again a blatant lie.)

Up to this point, although I realised that DVA were using delaying tactics to resolve this, I still believed that perhaps their hands were tied to some extent because of Government regulations. There is no way that I can condone being lied to.

I do have one request and that is, “Do you agree with the actions that I have taken to this point?’ I received an excellent response for the Medical Survey however I need to know if there are other issues you believe that I should address.

I need feedback please.

Best wishes

Pat