Service Update for Stakeholders - May 2017

5 May 2017

The Taranaki DHB Pathology and Laboratory project has progressed rapidly over the last couple of weeks.

Thank you to all of those who provided feedback on the draft Service Specification. Your feedback has now been considered and changes to the Service Specification have been made accordingly, with the final version reviewed by independent laboratory experts.

Taranaki DHB is taking a direct procurement approach with the incumbent provider of Pathology and Community Laboratory Services (Taranaki MedLab Ltd). This means the DHB has requested a detailed proposal from Taranaki MedLab Ltd on how they plan to deliver the combined hospital and community service. Their proposal is due to be submitted to Taranaki DHB in six weeks.

The proposal will be evaluated in June and July by a panel which includes local clinical and managerial input, and external independent advice from a pathologist, laboratory scientist and a team of independent financial advisors. Further work may be required following the outcome of the evaluation.

The Strategic Directions for Pathology and Laboratory Services in Taranaki (November 2016) document describes the intention to implement a “whole of system” approach that manages overall hospital and community testing together. This will be potentially supported by consolidating services with a single, large processing laboratory and initial investigations have been undertaken on the capital assumptions for a purpose built laboratory on the Taranaki Base Hospital site.

The development of the new build will be dependent on the finalisation of a new pathology services contract and the agreements reached with the provider of those services. Tentatively, and subject to a range of other considerations, the new laboratory building will potentially to be ready early 2019. Taranaki DHB will continue to provide updates as this project progresses.

Last updated: Friday, May 5, 2017