DHB to privatise Whakatane Hospital laboratory

In a move that has attracted widespread opposition, Bay of Plenty District Health Board is to privatise its Whakatane Hospital laboratory.

Laboratory services provider Pathology Associates has begun discussions with the board about taking over the hospital's laboratory.

Sandy Milne, formerly chief technologist at the laboratory, attacked the consultation process.

The Medical Laboratory Workers Union termed it a "sad day for Whakatane".

Union chief executive Deborah Powell said private laboratory service providers were profit-driven, which inevitably led to reductions in service.

Health board chief operating officer Philip Balmer said the talks would aim to have Pathlab, as the company is known, taking accountability for laboratory testing at the hospital from early next year.

The board already contracts Pathlab to run community-based laboratory testing in the Eastern Bay and Western Bay, and hospital-based testing in Tauranga.

"Pathlab is a trusted provider and we are confident that they can ensure a high-quality service continues at Whakatane Hospital," he said.