‘They told us to tip it' — late reprieve saves big bill
After Peter Ashcroft's son died in June — for personal reasons, Mr Ashcroft did not wish to use his son's name in this article — the Mosgiel man was left stunned when he was told he would have to dump piles of unused medical supplies at a cost of $600.
For the past 28 years Mr Ashcroft's son had been on ACC, which provided 24/7 carers after an accident left him a tetraplegic.
As part of his care he was sent boxes upon boxes of medical supplies.
Following his son's death, all left-over medication was returned to the chemist and then Mr Ashcroft rang Auckland-based company Onelink to to tell them to come and pick up the leftover non-perishable supplies, which he understood were worth a total of about $22,000.
Mr Ashcroft said he was surprised to be told to take it all to the landfill.
"$22,000 . . . it's a huge number, and they told us to tip it — that's $600 worth of bloody tip charges for us."
He was "gobsmacked" by the waste, he said.
"It didn't sit easy with me."
After he spoke to the Otago Daily Times and questions were sent to Onelink, Mr Ashcroft received a call from ACC.
He said he was told someone would come and collect the supplies and redistribute them to places such as the hospice that could use them.
The items were collected this week.
He had also been told ACC was working on changing the system so other families working with ACC would not be left in the same situation, which he was happy about.
"It's a good outcome."
Over the years his son required medical supplies, he was often sent more than was needed, Mr Ashcroft said.
Three years ago the family managed to get a pile of surplus supplies sent back, but a mountain of extra items soon started to fill the house up again.
He was pleased all the extras did not have to go to the landfill.
A Onelink spokeswoman said once products were delivered to a patient, there was no control over how they were stored and handled as it "could create risk for other customers" if they were reused.
"Our strict returns policy, built in conjunction with ACC, is intended to minimise the potential risks of contamination and compromised product integrity, and to protect our clients and staff by ensuring the safety of any products redistributed," she said.
laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
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‘They told us to tip it' — late reprieve saves big bill
A father organising his late son's affairs has had a last-minute reprieve after potentially being landed with a big bill to dump $22,000 worth of excess medical supplies. After Peter Ashcroft's son died in June — for personal reasons, Mr Ashcroft did not wish to use his son's name in this article — the Mosgiel man was left stunned when he was told he would have to dump piles of unused medical supplies at a cost of $600. For the past 28 years Mr Ashcroft's son had been on ACC, which provided 24/7 carers after an accident left him a tetraplegic. As part of his care he was sent boxes upon boxes of medical supplies. Following his son's death, all left-over medication was returned to the chemist and then Mr Ashcroft rang Auckland-based company Onelink to to tell them to come and pick up the leftover non-perishable supplies, which he understood were worth a total of about $22,000. Mr Ashcroft said he was surprised to be told to take it all to the landfill. "$22,000 . . . it's a huge number, and they told us to tip it — that's $600 worth of bloody tip charges for us." He was "gobsmacked" by the waste, he said. "It didn't sit easy with me." After he spoke to the Otago Daily Times and questions were sent to Onelink, Mr Ashcroft received a call from ACC. He said he was told someone would come and collect the supplies and redistribute them to places such as the hospice that could use them. The items were collected this week. He had also been told ACC was working on changing the system so other families working with ACC would not be left in the same situation, which he was happy about. "It's a good outcome." Over the years his son required medical supplies, he was often sent more than was needed, Mr Ashcroft said. Three years ago the family managed to get a pile of surplus supplies sent back, but a mountain of extra items soon started to fill the house up again. He was pleased all the extras did not have to go to the landfill. A Onelink spokeswoman said once products were delivered to a patient, there was no control over how they were stored and handled as it "could create risk for other customers" if they were reused. "Our strict returns policy, built in conjunction with ACC, is intended to minimise the potential risks of contamination and compromised product integrity, and to protect our clients and staff by ensuring the safety of any products redistributed," she said.
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