Pathologists criticise DHB moves on lab services

Pathologists have joined the growing number of professional and sector groups critical of the way district health boards are compromising community health by putting laboratory services at risk.

New Zealand Association of Pathology Practices executive officer Mike Fitzgerald said today his members were very concerned about recent DHB processes and decisions that placed a huge stress on community pathology practices, pathologists, scientists, technologists, nurses and support staff.

"Many highly trained health professionals are reconsidering their future working in the NZ health sector."

The situation had huge implications for the health and safety of all New Zealanders if allowed to continue unchecked, Mr Fitzgerald said.

He said the DHBs were treating community pathology as a commodity to be purchased like a supply of rubber gloves or hospital cleaning services.

"They do not seem to understand that community pathology is a highly specialised medical practice.

"Its ability to help the primary health sector prevent people needing the more expensive secondary hospital services depends largely on the strength of the relationship established over many years with other health professionals working in the primary sector."

GPs, specialists and midwives relied heavily on the quality of their relationships with their community pathology practices for their diagnoses and management of patient conditions, Mr Fitzgerald said.

The group has called for an immediate moratorium on the implementation of DHB changes to community services while a ministerial review looks at all DHB decisions about community laboratory services to date and establishes a nationwide approach to the provision of a critical primary health service.

DHBs have been reviewing laboratory services over the past two years and their findings have caused some medical staff and professionals to take action.

There has also been outrage at the tendering out of public hospitals' medical laboratory services.

- NZPA