A new Surgery Service Charter launched by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria this week will stop people injured on the road waiting too long to have surgery, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
"People needing surgery for transport accident injuries were often waiting far too long to get approval to have the surgery," said Lachlan Fitch, Victorian President, Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA). "This new Charter holds the TAC to account for making sure surgery requests are processed in an agreed timeframe.
"Delays in obtaining approval to have surgery obviously delay the surgery itself. These delays were causing significant stress to our clients and slowing down their whole recovery process.
"This Charter is a foundational shift in making sure the TAC is accountable to clients for processing their surgery requests. There are no legislative requirements to do this and we are very pleased to see the TAC introduce these protocols."
The TAC Service Surgery Charter was developed by the TAC in consultation with the ALA and the Law Institute of Victoria.
"This collaboration has worked well to make sure people in Victoria are looked after properly when they are injured on the road," said Mr Fitch. "We are working every day to help clients negotiate the injury compensation scheme and we are pleased to see the TAC listen and respond to our concerns."
The TAC Surgery Service Charter can be viewed here: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/clients/how-we-can-help/treatments-and-services/services/surgery-after-your-accident/surgery-service-charter
