Media release from Auckland DHB chair Pat Snedden - re Labtests

We have heard the concerns from clinicians about the lack of responsiveness of the Labtests' service and have taken the step to intervene over quality and safety matters.  We insisted that Labtests address the leadership issues which they have done.

Healthscope, the parent company of Labtests, has received a clear direction from ARDHBs to immediately fix those parts of the service delivery that are unsatisfactory.  To ensure that this process happens quickly and to the satisfaction of our clinicians in hospitals and in the greater Auckland region, the ARDHBs have already embedded a senior management team into Labtests to ensure a robust and sustainable improvement in performance and responsiveness, particularly related to Quality and Safety.

They have the authority to act to ensure the Q & S issues are addressed immediately.

We have taken on board clinical feedback and have made it very clear that we want immediate and substantive improvements.  The Healthscope chair has responded directly to address the leadership of this process and has bought over their Australian CMO Dr Michael Coglin and their Medical Director of Pathology Dr John Andrew.  Dr Coglin has begun the process of engaging with Auckland clinicians.

Labtests' response indicates that they have the will and the ability to deliver on the contract - they have got the message.  The emphasis is now on the success of Labtests and their rapid response to improvement of the culture of service delivery in New Zealand.  The ARDHBs are clear that the current system can work, given a clear focus by Labtests on the clinicians and their needs.

In the event that Labtests cannot deliver a service of the quality we are seeking, the DHBs will avail themselves of the remedies within the contract.