PHO in Talks With DHBs on New Lab Contract

News Release
For immediate release
May 2, 2007

Western Bay PHO In Talks With District Health Board About Making New Lab Contact Workable

The Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation is maintaining its aim to work constructively with the Bay of Plenty District Health Board to sort out the situation surrounding reduced services under the new laboratory services contract.

However there is increasing pressure by the PHO for the Health Board to ensure arrangements for patients and GPs revert to how they were pre 1 April when the new service arrangement came into force.

Western Bay PHO Chief Executive Roger Taylor says his organisation's core function is to enhance the wellbeing of its enrolled population. He says the PHO board and management have genuine concerns about patient safety under the new contract and those concerns are being worked through with the District Health Board this week.

Taylor says the fundamental shift under the new contract is that it is now the laboratory company that decides whether an application by a GP for a lab test for his or her patient is valid and should be carried out. Prior to the new contract it was the GP that decided which test they wanted done by the lab company in order to help with their diagnosis. Despite the potential of clinical sharing of notes this sharing will increase the level of risk.

The PHO is concerned that any judgement about whether a lab referral is accepted should only be made by those credentialled to do so. The PHO is concerned that may not be the case at present.

In addition, to this shift, says Taylor, costs for tests not deemed to be essential to diagnose an illness are having to be paid for by the patient. Prior to the change in service, a GP from one of the PHO's practices could order lab tests to try and ensure a well patient remained well eg. cholesterol, prostate tests, that were free of charge to the patient.

"We are not really concerned which company has the laboratory contract. We are concerned about the wellbeing of our patients and our populations that we are tasked with improving health outcomes for.

"We have concerns about patient safety and we are talking with the District Health Board to ensure those concerns are addressed. We see there has been a reduction in services and we want that reversed and we are talking to the Health Board about how that can be achieved. And we are seeing an increase in the level of process under the new system.

While the PHO sees the establishment by the DHB of a fund for 'wellness lab testing' the PHOs and practices will be required to submit proposals to the DHB as to how this fund could be used.

This only begins to return the service arrangements to their pre 1 April state.

ENDS

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