GPs join the fight against plans to ditch Medlab

GPs yesterday joined the ranks of critics opposed to plans to drop Medlab as the Auckland area's main medical laboratory.

Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata district health boards have given a $560 million, eight-year contract to a consortium led by Healthscope Ltd, Australia's second-largest private hospital operator. They say the change will save $15 million a year.

But Diagnostic Medlab, the previous provider, is asking the High Court in Auckland for a judicial review of the decision.

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners warned in a statement the move posed a danger to patients.

The statement criticised the DHBs for making major changes to the region's laboratory service specifications "without giving proper consideration to the impact the change would have on primary care".

College president and GP Jonathan Fox said: "If we cannot get a continuation of the comprehensive, timely and precise reporting back from the labs, it is our patients who will suffer."

Dr Fox said council members from outside Auckland had found that where other DHBs had changed lab services to save money, the end result had been a reduction in the quality of service. "It is bizarre that ... a world class primary care service should be put at risk."

- NZPA