Allister defends Causeway Microbiology Laboratory
04 March 2009
TUV leader Jim Allister has written to the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, expressing concerns about the future of the Microbiology Laboratory at Coleraine Hospital.
Commenting the MEP said:
“I am gravely concerned about the decision by senior management of the Northern HSC Trust to close the Microbiology Laboratory at Coleraine Hospital and move that service, and the staff to Antrim. It appears to defy logic.
“The microbiology facility at Coleraine has provided a vital service to the Causeway Hospital since the mid nineties, the laboratory complex itself providing sensible geographic distribution of these vital support services. I do not see what has changed to refute the assessment of the need for this facility, which predicated its establishment in 1994.
“I am disturbed by two elements of the decision-making process. Firstly, has a full cost benefit analysis been conducted and secondly has the consultation essential to such a strategic decision been adequate, if existent at all?
“On the issue of costings, just what savings, if any, are anticipated, given increased staff travel costs, the resulting need to provide replacement “on-call” personnel for the remaining disciplines of biochemistry and haematology, the continuing overhead costs for the other laboratory uses, and additional transport costs, including taxi costs, to transport samples to Antrim?
“In terms of consultation, were the staff consulted in advance of the decision, were GPs consulted, or other stakeholders, including medical consultants? Surely, such a strategic decision should only be taken on foot of thorough consultation; otherwise the decision is likely to be seriously flawed.
“It is indeed my view that this is a wholly flawed decision, with adverse repercussions for the future of hospital services at Coleraine. Are the biochemistry and haematology services next to go and, then, how, in the long-term, will an acute hospital be sustained without such facilities? Or, is this the beginning of the roll-out of a plan to downgrade the Causeway Hospital? It seems to me that the provision of acute services and on-site laboratory facilities go hand in hand.
“As I understand these matters, expeditious analysis of samples is key to an efficient and effective hospital service. Yet, here, courtesy of this needless transfer to Antrim, delay, deterioration of samples and compromise of speedy diagnosis could result. I have reminded the Minister that shortly the time for travelling from Coleraine to Antrim will be extended by an extensive roadworks scheme on the A26.
“I have, therefore, invited Mr McGimpsey to call in this decision and subject it to rigorous assessment and proofing against the standards of both hospital services, and decision-making, which his own Department expects.”
