Aotea Pathology withdraws Wellington region laboratories bid

Pathologists have written to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman asking him to consider the serious harm that proposed changes to the Wellington region’s public hospital laboratories may cause, reports Radio New Zealand. The full article is available here.  Meanwhile, Abano Healthcare Group has announced that Aotea Pathology Limited – one of the contenders for the new regional laboratory service – has withdrawn its bid in the current process.   Abano says the decision comes after months of discussions with the three district health boards – Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley, and Wairarapa.  The company came to the conclusion that the proposed terms of contract would not be in the best interests of clinicians and staff, and that it could place the existing pathology services at considerable risk.  The full media release can be read here.