A MEDICAL union fears scientist jobs will be cut and testing taken away from the Warrnambool Base Hospital after contracts for pathology services were awarded to a new provider.
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South West Healthcare announced this week Dorevitch Pathology would take over pathology services at the Warrnambool Base Hospital and Camperdown hospital from July 1, replacing long-term provider Healthscope Pathology (Gribbles).
But the Medical Scientists Association of Victoria (MSAV) has warned healthcare standards in the region could be compromised under the new arrangement.
Executive officer Paul Elliott said Dorevitch had “extensive history” in taking pathology testing out of hospitals and sacking local scientists.
“We’ve seen it happen wherever Dorevitch have been contracted,” he said.
“From the Latrobe Regional Hospital to Ballarat and we will see it happen in Warrnambool.”
But Dorevitch Pathology chief executive officer Neville Moller “totally refuted” the claims.
“It is disappointing that this union is putting out false information to the south-west community,” he said.
“To use patients as pawns for their own industrial purposes is pathetic. The MSAV has had no contact with Dorevitch Pathology over its proposed operations in Warrnambool and Camperdown.”
Mr Moller said his company operates pathology services from 18 major regional public and four metropolitan hospitals in Victoria and employs 15 pathologists in regional areas, along with local scientists and support staff.
He said all staff at the existing service would be offered positions with Dorevitch.
South West Healthcare chief executive officer John Krygger said the Dorevitch tender included a commitment to upgrade laboratory equipment.
He said Healthcare Imaging Services had been reappointed to provide radiology services and would spend $2 million to upgrade MRI and CT scanning equipment. It will also introduce new mammogram technology to enable 3D imaging of breast conditions.
Healthscope Pathology state manager for Victoria Scott Jansson said they were disappointed to be no longer offering services at Camperdown and Warrnambool after 20 years.
Mr Jansson said Health-scope hoped to retain the majority of its workforce which totals between 35 and 40 people.
“The Warrnambool Base and Camperdown hospitals were a large part of our services, but we also worked with a lot of community health providers and at St John of God Hospital,” he said.
“We have been in the south-west for 20 years. We have been keeping staff fully informed and our intention is to have a strong presence in this part of the state.”
