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Source: ONE News -
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Silence is golden for those trapped in a white hot media spotlight. Those looking to escape the heat inevitably resort to the tried and true method of 'putting a lid' on the issue causing all the fuss. Quiet is all but assured.
This is exactly what has happened in Auckland's messy Labtests controversy . The Regional DHB's Chair effectively called 'time' last week after publicly lambasting Labtests for its poor start and then declining further comment for a fortnight.
The two week hiatus will give the main players some much needed peace and quiet for serious problem solving out of the media glare. The lid has been shut tight with Pat Snedden's strongly worded comments ringing in the public's ears - things are fixable and 'Labtests must do better or else.'
These are key messages not only for the wider community but two groups with the power to influence where things go from here. For Labtests to truly succeed, 'buy in' is now crucial from Auckland's GP's and highly trained staff who remain loyal to former laboratory services provider, DML.
The Regional DHB's have acknowledged a raft of complaints from concerned GP's are justified. But problems doctors have identified tend to suggest a lack of expertise is at the heart of many of Labtests problems. How else to explain the embarrassing raft of miscommunications, misdiagnoses and botch-ups that have occurred across Labtests services, from collection centres to laboratory?
It is hard to accept the explanation offered by Labtests' parent company, Healthscope, last week, after hastily despatched top brass arrived from Australia to clean up the mess. Chief Medical Director, Dr Michael Coglin, put the problems down to unforeseen differences between the provision of lab services in Australia and New Zealand. And, that Labtests had not fully understood what local GP's and midwives expected.
Oh, come on! It is the business of Healthscope, a global laboratory services provider, to get to grips before now with what Auckland expects from its $560 million contract. For the first time in its 70 year history, Healthscope has had to accept help from trouble shooters sent in by an unsatisfied contractor, in this case Auckland's Regional DHB's.
It is not as if Labtests has not had the time or motivation to get this right. It was awarded the contract in 2006 after a protracted, bitter court battle with former provider DML. Given the history, Labtests knew exactly how much was riding on the seamless transition it promised, along with an enhanced service.
Yet right from the outset Labtests has been plagued with problems. From GP's complaining their computer systems were not 'patched in' to Labtests early enough to ensure smooth operation, to problems with staff and waiting times at collection centres, and misdiagnoses of potentially life threatening results.
It certainly appears as though Labtests has not been able to get enough of the right people in the right places to make its operation work smoothly. A global shortage of pathologists cannot be helping. Nor can specialist staff who remain loyal and working for DML even though their futures are extremely uncertain. Those specialists have been forced to weigh up their options in light of Pat Snedden's determination that problems at Labtests be fixed and fixed promptly.
A cynical view may be that the two week 'cloak of silence' thrown around Labtests and its problems was designed to assist skilled scientists contemplating whether to remain in New Zealand or take their valuable, highly sought after services abroad. Few highly skilled professionals, in any field, would readily trade a career at a highly regarded company like DML for one at a problem plagued, albeit local, alternative. A bit of silence might just help send a message that things are settling down, that things will be OK.
Who will know until Labtests and the Regional DHB's are once again open to questions and the answers can be tested by Labtests users?
Answers will be along in a fortnight. Until then, the Regional
DHB's Chair's high powered demand that 'Labtests do better or else'
begs one question. 'Better or else what, Mr Snedden?"
Are you a doctor, patient or user that has been affected -
positively or negatively - by the situation with Labtests? If so,
reporter Nicole Bremner would like to hear your story. Please email
the details to
nicole.bremner@tvnz.co.nz
