Scientists attack cuts

Reduced ACL a threat to patients

SCIENTISTS fear a proposed halving of Australian Clinical Labs’ Geelong workforce will put a strain on specialist pathology needs, threatening the wellbeing of our most vulnerable patients.

The Medical Scientists Association of Victoria and ACL will face off today in their final mediation hearing at the Fair Work Commission, as about 40 pathology workers face the axe.

The Geelong Advertiser has obtained an email from a scientist expressing concerns that, should cuts go ahead, there will be only one pathologist experienced in specialty areas such as flow cytometry analysis.

Flow cytometry measures the number and percentage of cells in a blood sample and their characteristics, and is used to determine whether a high white cell count is the result of blood cancer.

In the email, the scientist feared ACL could move this service to the state lab in Clayton, which would be “highly questionable from a quality perspective”.

The lab is also responsible for some stem cell collections.

“This service would be greatly impacted if flow cytometry was not done in Geelong and they had to wait for a result from Melbourne,” the scientist said.

Transfusion, coagulation and blood film morphology services are also concerns.

“(ACL) don’t seem to have any regard for the intellectual capital, the knowledge, the experience that senior staff bring to the organisation and the service it provides,” the scientist said.

MSAV secretary Paul Elliott said the proposed cuts to a “skeleton staff” left ACL no room to cover staff during illness or absence and could leave inexperienced staff in charge of operations.

Mr Elliott said losing senior staff would also limit the ability for experienced scientists to upskill new workers.

The Geelong Advertiser contacted the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association to address the clinical implications of scientists’ concerns, but it declined to comment on the matter.

Barwon Health has said it would continue to monitor ACL’s performance to ensure it is meeting the required standards as defined in its contract.

An ACL spokeswoman said it would not respond while the mediation process was in progress.