Ryall powerless in lab testing debacle 

Source: NZPATony Ryall

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The minister of health says he is powerless to intervene in Auckland's ongoing lab testing debacle.
 
A group of doctors says it has no confidence in provider Labtests and has called on Tony Ryall to alter the contract and return half the workload to the previous provider, Diagnostic Medlab (DML).

Ryall was talking to surgeons about science on Wednesday, though many Auckland doctors wish he would address Labtests' contract.

They want him to consider breaking the contract open so that Labtests and DML can roughly half the service each.

About sixty GPs met on Tuesday night, saying they had no confidence in Labtests, the current laboratory testing provider.

The meeting heard of the latest botch up in what ONE News understands is a list growing by around 20 complaints a day.

But Ryall says he cannot help doctors with their latest demand.

"The law is actually quite clear that the Minister of Health can make no directions with specific contracts," says Ryall.

Association Law Professor at Auckland University Bill Hodge confirmed that.

"The minister does not have the power to truncate or interfere with performance of a contract."

The Regional Health Boards remain confident they can reverse doctors fears

"This thing is not stuck. This thing is moving and moving in the right direction," says Regional DHB Chairman Pat Snedden.

Snedden concedes getting doctors onside is vital and says they will not be satisfied until GPs are satisfied.

But some like the director of Tamaki Healthcare does not need convincing.

"We have had very few if any complaints from our practices about their (Labtests) service," says Matire Harwood.

Snedden says he is no fan of taking more work off Labtests and handing it to rival Diagnostic Medlab who already service the private sector.

Labtests says things are improving.

Its latest survey reveals three quarters of patients rated Labtests service as good or excellent while less than 1% said it was poor.