Labtests' CEO steps aside

Outgoing Labtests CEO Ulf Lindskog.Photo / Dean Purcell

The chief executive officer of Auckland's troubled new laboratory company, Labtests, has stepped aside from the job.

The company said in a statement this afternoon that Ulf Lindskog's role has been taken over by a senior employee from Labtests' Australian parent company, Healthscope.

"Healthscope's chief operating officer of pathology, Paul Waterson, has taken over the role of Labtests CEO from Ulf Lindskog."

The Herald understands Mr Lindskog continues to be employed in another role, although the statement did not address this question.

Mr Lindskog is from Sweden. He was previously a senior financial officer at Healthscope and shifted to New Zealand to start up Labtests, which has just completed the take-over of the Auckland regional community laboratory service from Diagnostic Medlab.

The start-up, which began last month, has been plagued by delays for patients and in returning some test results.

Some blood samples have been put in the wrong tubes, necessitating the tests being repeated, some patients have complained that phlebotomists have had great difficulty getting the needle in and they have experienced significant pain.

The district health boards have today put six of their own senior staff into the company to take over control of safety and quality assurance after the Health and Disability Commissioner said he held concerns for public safety.

He has received 13 complaints about Labtests.

The DHBs say they are confident they can get Labtests on track quickly.