Path lab backtrack

Posted on: 23rd March 2015

RCHT

 

Following his meeting with the Chief Executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Bill Shields, West Cornwall MP Andrew George welcomed the decision of the Trust to look again at the proposal to outsource pathology services at the Trust.

Mr Shields confirmed that the Trust needed additional investment into the path labs but that they had withdrawn the proposal to outsource. If the Trust were to come forward with any alternative plans, they would do so at Treliske.  This decision would be made at the April board meeting.

Mr George had raised complaints with the Trust about its apparent plans to outsource pathology services.  Many of those involved in the service feared that the pathology service could go out to a private company outside Cornwall.  At a large public meeting which Mr George called at Penzance last month, senior GPs and health commissioners admitted that they had not been consulted and knew little of the plans.  GPs commission more than half of the work of the path labs.

Mr George said, “I welcome news that the proposal to outsource pathology services will go through a “pause” and that there will be a service review.  I’m also pleased that Mr Shields has made it clear that pathology services will remain in Cornwall on the Treliske site”.