CDHB to retain Current community laboratory services

The Canterbury District Health Board is pleased to announce it has completed its review of Community Laboratory Services.

Following a community consultation process, the CDHB has decided to retain the current multi-provider model of contracting with Southern Community Laboratories, MedLab South and Academic Pathology.

"As a result of the review, we will however be implementing a new funding model of fee-for-service with risk-sharing arrangements," Karleen Edwards, the CDHB’s General Manager Planning and Funding said. "This model will encourage providers to maximise efficiencies and maintain high standards of service delivery within a budget range set by the DHB," she said.

A Laboratory Reference Group will also be established for laboratories, primary health organisations and DHB representatives, so that they can work more effectively together in updating, aligning and improving services to patients and referrers, based on best practice.

The results were presented by the CDHB to current providers on Tuesday 25 July. The providers indicated support for the Board’s direction, which preserves the structure of the current laboratory services in Canterbury, while achieving the main aim of the review, which was to improve health outcomes for patients.

"Feedback from the community consultation was that the current system generally works well for patients and referrers, and while some opportunities exist for improvements, the preference was not to make major changes," Dr Edwards said. "The CDHB believes that the new model will preserve these aspects and encourage collaboration and healthy competition amongst its current providers."