278 jobs to go in overhaul of SA Pathology after consultant’s report
SA Pathology is preparing to cull 278 jobs as the “starting point” of a major overhaul that shocked staff are now trying to absorb.
SA PATHOLOGY is preparing to cull 278 jobs as the “starting point” of a major overhaul that shocked staff are now trying to absorb.
It follows a consultant’s report which initially aimed to cut the workforce of 2000 by 332 and seek annual savings of $42.2 million.
The review by consultants Ernst and Young found pathology costs in SA were almost 50 per cent higher than the industry-accepted benchmark and SA Pathology had failed to deliver planned savings and productivity improvements.
Staff were told of planned changes to services today which will see “core laboratories” available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in metropolitan hospitals for pathology work to ensure a sample can be received, processed and the results reported within two hours.
The planned configuration will see a central laboratory used for all non-urgent and specialist testing for all metropolitan sites.
The results will be a much streamlined service with resulting redundancies.
A SA Health spokesman said the 278 jobs cut is just the starting figure.
“The current report shows around 278 positions fewer will be required in the proposed model,” the spokesman said.
“However, this is a starting point that we are talking to staff and unions about before implementation is complete.”
Staff examining the proposed changes told The Advertiser the outlook for many staff was grim and many were “in shock”.
However, SA Pathology acting executive director Dr Janice Fletcher said the changes would create a more efficient pathology service to deliver improvements in patient outcomes.
“The Ernst and Young review completed in December 2014 found the overall efficiency of SA Pathology was significantly less than interstate and relevant international peers,” Dr Fletcher said.
“Following the report’s recommendations, we are continuing our consultation with staff to work towards creating a more efficient pathology system.”
Dr Fletcher said extensive consultation with staff would ensure any changes “do not negatively impact” on service levels and standards.
“We are working towards a proposed reconfiguration that has been developed based on best practice from pathology services around the world,” she said.
“All proposed changes will be strongly considered and will only be made if the benefits are clear. Any changes will be made to complement the wider South Australian healthcare system.”
Next Monday, Dr Glenn Edwards takes over as the new director of SA Pathology after SA Health sacked former director Ken Barr in April.
That followed revelations by the Sunday Mail that dozens of local men had been falsely diagnosed with prostate cancer after SA Pathology botched the testing process.
