Lab protests underway

Some 200 people today picketed a meeting of the Auckland District Health Board to protest changes to the laboratory services.

The authorities had refused permission for the backers of a petition signed by 100,000 calling on the region's three district health boards to reconsider the decision to end Medlab's community laboratory contract in favour of Labtest Auckland.

Meanwhile, Waikato health chiefs have embarked on laboratory changes similar to those that have caused a furore in other parts of the country.

The district health board, concerned by rising costs, has called for bids by November 3 for a single, fixed-price contract to provide most community laboratory services in the region.

At present two providers handle most of the non-hospital tests, Medlab Hamilton and Pathlab Waikato.

The Medical Association fears the changes nationally will drive some pathologists away from what is already a short-staffed workforce.