Labtests' service is improving, say GPs

Almost half of doctors surveyed complain that wrong tests are still a concern. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland GPs say Labtests' service has improved, but it still has a long way to go.

A report released by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has combined the results of three surveys of doctors one, six and 12 weeks after the service started in September.

Of the college's 1135 members practising in Auckland, 442 responded to the first web-based survey, 196 to the second, and 166 to the third,

In the first and second surveys, over 70 per cent of GPs said they had experienced "significant" or "major" problems with Labtests' service, but by the third survey this had dropped to 55 per cent.

In survey two, 64 per cent of GPs reported an improvement since the start of September and by survey three 68 per cent reported an improvement.

The laboratory service had become "much better" for 14 per cent of doctors in survey two and 23 per cent in survey three.

Delayed access to laboratory tests was the most widespread concern initially (75.4 per cent), but by the third survey, more GPs had problems with incorrect results (41.6 per cent).

Across the surveys there was no change in the proportion of doctors having problems with the return of incorrect results and a significant increase in the proportion suspecting that they received incorrect results.

A third of GPs responding to survey three were still experiencing delayed test results.

The college conducted the survey in response to concerns from Auckland GPs about the changes in community laboratory services in the region.

Hard data was needed about how widespread these concerns were and what problems GPs were experiencing.

The college said the large number of responses, particularly to the first survey, indicated the change in laboratory services was an important issue for many Auckland GPs.

It has already shared early survey results with the Auckland DHBs and Labtests to ensure members' concerns are directly considered in any changes and efforts to improve the services provided under the new contract.

The DHBs have conducted their own survey of GPs and midwives to obtain more specific information about some areas of the new service.

The college report said the results of the three surveys painted a picture of some calamities in laboratory services that were experienced by a large number of GPs at the start of the new services, followed by an improvement as the new Labtests contract bedded down.

It said continued effort by Labtests was needed if it was to establish widespread credibility with GPs.