MLWU Media Release Incorrect

MEDIA RELEASE
TO: News Room

DATE: 3.7.08

MLWU Media Release Incorrect

Facts in a media release today from the NZ Medical Laboratory Workers Union about Canterbury District Health Board’s cytology screening are incorrect.

CDHB’s Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL) are not encouraging cytology screeners to primary screen more than 60 cervical smears each day.

CHL General Manager Trevor English said, “that doing this would be expressly against information that was given to staff as recently as Monday.”

“At the moment we have a backlog of tests that we are working to clear and as part of this we have re-organised staff working practices and removed non-screening duties so that cytology staff can focus on screening work,” he said.

“We have also changed the way we track and remunerate any overtime done by our cytology screeners to ensure screening work is the priority. It’s all about making us more efficient, while maintaining high standards and good working conditions for our staff.”

An email to staff this week included the following information:
• No staff are to exceed more than 60 primary screens per day as per the National Cytology Screening Programme standards.

As part of our quality assurance process, we monitor the quality of screening by our staff on a daily basis, Mr English said

ENDS

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