DHBs seek support to phase in Medlab

Diagnostic Medlab will restart some services from today. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland's district health boards are confident that patient confusion will be minimal when Diagnostic Medlab restarts some services from today.

"We are asking the medical community for their support as patients will be looking to them to direct them to the correct provider," Auckland DHB chairman Pat Snedden said.

Referrals and home visits ordered by GPs will be done by Labtests at their collection centres, but Diagnostic Medlab will perform tests for referrals from private specialists.

Mr Snedden said testing by Diagnostic Medlab was all private sector work in the more complex range of the contracted services.

However, Mr Snedden said after the closure of some collection rooms, Diagnostic Medlab collection centres are limited to only 12.

Diagnostic Medlab was rehired at a cost of $10.6 million to take over 10 per cent of the community contract following a flood of complaints about Labtests since it took over the taxpayer lab contract in August.

The four-year contract will be for testing of patients and residents of private hospitals, private specialists, fertility clinics and rest homes, and home-visit tests ordered by specialists.

"I am sure the medical community and the people of Auckland will adjust to a two-provider system in relatively short order," Mr Snedden said.

He said the change would take the pressure off Labtests to enable it to deliver "a safe and reliable high-quality mainstream service' to its contract specifications.

* Medlab centres

Quay West, cnr Albert St and Mills Lane.

Ellerslie, 10 Harrison Rd.

Mercy Hospital, 98 Mountain Rd.

Ascot Hospital, 90 Greenlane Rd.

Ponsonby Tce.

Remuera, 123 St Marks Rd.

188 St Heliers Bay Rd.

260 Botany Rd.

Manurewa, 161b Great South Rd.

Henderson, 49 Lincoln Rd.

Mairangi Bay, cnr Apollo Drive and Rosedale Rd.

Milford, Shorecare, 209 Shakespeare Rd.