Some Auckland blood tests have been sent to Wellington since a machine processing immunology samples broke down in February. File photo. Photo: 123RF
A courier company has twice mislaid hundreds of blood samples, after Auckland's only community laboratory began sending them to Wellington to be processed, according to the union representing lab workers, which has just confirmed further strike action.
Awanui Labs - which contracts to Health NZ - has been sending some blood tests to Wellington since a machine processing immunology samples in its Auckland facility broke down in February.
Awanui chief operations officer Nick Champness confirmed some blood test samples were "delayed in transit" - but all samples had been located and no patients had to be re-tested.
"In early April, one shipment was delayed by a few hours to arrive at the Wellington laboratory. All samples were processed, and patients received their results within the expected timeframes.
"The second delayed shipment occurred during the Anzac long-weekend. We were aware of the issue when the shipment did not show up at its expected arrival time and our team were immediately in contact with the courier provider.
"The shipment was relocated, however due to the time in transit, these samples were no longer suitable for testing and were re-prepared using the samples retained for short period in Auckland and as a result no patients were required to return for a second blood collection."
'A cost-cutting exercise'
APEX union associate advocate Sam Heimsath said it was "not the first time" that Awanui had resorted to sending samples to other centres for testing.
The company was actually proposing to make this a permanent arrangement, which would mean the loss of 11 jobs in Auckland,
"Over a number of years, Awanui and other corporate lab providers have attempted to consolidate some of their services from rural laboratories into the main centres.
"That's a cost-cutting exercise for the most part - it means they don't have to retain as many staff.
"But it comes at a time when because of this 30 percent gap in laboratory workers' wages [compared with those working in Health NZ-owned labs], the ability for these employers to recruit and retain staff to allow these labs to take on more work is almost untenable."
It was patients who ended up paying the price of cost-cutting, Heimsath said.
"It's not just the breaking down of machines and the delays to samples. It's about the risk ultimately to patients."
APEX, which represents Awanui's lab workers, tonight announced rolling strikes from 24 May to 4 June.
Heimsath told Checkpoint 500 workers will be taking part across the country.
APEX lab scientists and technicians - who went on strike in March - have yet to resolve their long-running pay dispute with Awanui.
Awanui Labs has previously said funding from Health NZ was not enough to bridge the gap created by pay equity settlements in 2023, which bumped wages for lab technicians in the public sector.
Heimsath told Checkpoint this afternoon that Apex members had voted today to issue Awanui Labs a further 27 notices of strike action.
"These will be from 29 May to 4 June, but they will be rolling strikes, so the intention is, if it's voted for by members, we will continue to add weeks onto that. And we are talking over 500 laboratory workers across almost the whole country, from Northland to Southland."
Heimsath said workers will still cover essential services, but will be withdrawing parts of their labour to limit services.
'Common practice'
Champness acknowledged that patients and providers relied on timely and accurate results, but they could be assured that Awanui's "number one priority" was caring for patients.
The samples being sent to Wellington were "non-urgent community-based immunology tests".
"Transferring samples throughout the country within our laboratory network and to other providers is common practice in New Zealand and globally, in-particular for non-urgent testing. Our laboratories follow specific criteria on safe and timely sample transfer and these processes are independently audited for compliance."
In the event that Wellington became "a longer-term solution" for North Island community immunology testing, Awanui would increase staff numbers in this laboratory and use automation technology to boost capacity.
"However, the proposal is still out for consultation and no final decisions had been made."
The company was "actively and constructively engaged in discussions with Health NZ" over the funding gap, Champnes said.
Health NZ spokesperson Kate Dowson said the agency was aware of Awanui's "contingency solution".
"We have worked with Awanui to ensure the change has minimal impact on referrers across the Northern region. The transfer of samples to Wellington for processing has had no impact on the turnaround time of patient results."
Awanui had confirmed that no patients needed to be re-tested "due to delays by their sub-contracted courier provider during a recent public holiday", she said.
"Awanui had mitigation plans in place to ensure samples were resent and results reported within the expected timeframe."
Urgent immunology samples - such as for measles - were processed by LabPlus, which was operated by Auckland City Hospital.
Awanui had not told Health NZ about its internal proposal to review the immunology department in Auckland.
"We understand that a proposal is currently being consulted on, and we look forward to working with Awanui on medium-term solutions to address their instrumentation and staffing constraints. Health NZ expects to be consulted on any permanent changes to the service."
Regarding funding, Dowson said Health NZ was "in regular dialogue with Awanui regarding cost pressures and sustainability".
"The agreement is reviewed in line with the contractual requirements."
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