Ryall prods DHBs on lab tests 

Source: ONE News

Auckland is in the middle of a corporate war over medical lab testing but the government expects district health boards to ensure that the public receive proper services, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

Ryall's comments come in a week in which former laboratory test provider Diagnostic Medlab (DML) re-ignited its row with successor Labtests by sending a videotape of patient complaints to media.

DML lost its battle to hold on to its contract with the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau district health boards (DHBs) this year when the Supreme Court ruled in Labtests' favour.

The New Zealand Medical Association said on Wednesday it was used to a high standard of service and the current situation was not acceptable .

Ryall says he has made his views clear.

"Auckland is finding itself in the middle of a battle between two large Australian laboratory companies," Ryall says.

"I've made it very clear to the three district health boards chairs up there that it is my expectation that they are going to manage this process successfully for the people of Auckland."

The DHBs were taking action to make sure concerns are being addressed.

"What the government is doing is making sure that the DHBs who signed this contract manage it in a way that is safe for the patients of Auckland," Ryall says.

"It's their responsibility to keep the pressure on lab tests to do that."

Several days ago DML hired a public relations firm to interview patients outside Labtests' new collection centres.

Twenty-five patients were asked about the services they received and seven negative responses were edited together and released to media.

Labtests chief executive Ulf Lindskog responded to the videotape by saying his firm was focusing on its own services and it was up to DML what it did.

Have you had recent dealings with Labtest? How have your experiences been? ONE News would like to hear from you. Email news@tvnz.co.nz