Minister can't intervene, worried doctors told

Health Minister Tony Ryall says he is unable to intervene in the Auckland laboratory testing contract.

Medical groups have trooped through his office expressing grave concerns about the switch from Diagnostic Medlab (DML) to Labtests.

Pakuranga GP Dr Henry Doerr said yesterday he and at least a dozen colleagues had written to Mr Ryall asking him to cancel Labtests' contract in favour of staying with DML.

"[Our] concern is that the single best quality service in the health care system has been DML ... New relationships will have to develop. That won't happen overnight.

"When you see a train crash coming, you want to do something about it."

Mr Ryall said last night that he was unable to intervene because the Court of Appeal had directed that the contract be taken up by Labtests.

College of GPs president and Council of Medical Colleges chairman Dr Jonathan Fox said doctors were anxious about access to pathologists, test turnaround times and convenient patient access to collection rooms.

When asked if he was satisfied with Mr Ryall's actions, Dr Fox said: "We feel reassured that we have taken it to the highest level and been able to voice our concerns."

Medical Association chairman Dr Peter Foley said Mr Ryall could currently do no more than he had, but would have to step in if big problems emerged in the transition and patient care was compromised.