Pathology not up to scratch

PATHOLOGY services at the Royal Hobart Hospital do not fully comply with conditions for accreditation, a new report has found.

The combined National Association of Test Authorities Australia and Royal College of Pathologists of Australia report into pathology services at the hospital in April said a review would be required.

“In light of the number and nature of deficiencies identified during the assessment, a review of the laboratory response will be undertaken at NATA and a decision on the need for further action will be determined,” the report said.

“The provision of continuing Medicare approval may also be reviewed.”

Some of the issues raised in the report included the large workloads of some staff members, the vacancy for a quality manager since December, no training records for some staff who had been employed for several weeks and, in one case, nine months. Many staff had not had competency evaluations in years.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White, who raised the issues in the report in parliament yesterday, said it was alarming.

“What guarantee can Health Minister [Michael] Fer- guson give that pathology services will meet the standards required for the next review,” Ms White said.

Mr Ferguson told parliament the Government would continue to support public pathology at the hospital and “if further support is required it will be provided.”