NSW Health and Adrian Piccoli and response to community outrage on secret plan to gut pathology services

NSW Health Pathology provided a carefully worded media statement that mostly dodged our questions on hospital downgrades made without prior consultation. You can read the full transcript of our questions and their responses here.  

NSW Health Pathology Chief Executive Tracey McCosker said, “under the new arrangements, histopathology samples collected from patients at Griffith will be sent to NSW Health Pathology’s Wagga laboratory for testing and diagnosis”.

“This will give clinicians at Griffith access to a much larger team of pathologists at Wagga which will enable fast turnaround of vital information crucial to patient care.”

“This change does not affect any other part of the pathology laboratory at Griffith Hospital which has in fact been further enhanced recently with the addition of rapid flu testing services.”

When asked about the lack of consultation prior to making the change, the response was: 

“We’ve discussed this with local hospital management, clinicians and our staff and will continue to work with the two affected employees to support them during the proposed transition”.

Dr Narayanan Jayachandran (Jaya), however, has said there was no discussion with staff prior to the decision being made. He said there will be an emergency medical staff meeting on Monday night to decided next steps. 

The office of local member Adrian Piccoli said “Adrian is well aware of this issue. He has made representation to the [Health] Minister”.

“Like the Community and Mayor Dal Broi, Adrian does not want to see the downgrading of services at Griffith Base Hospital.

“There needs to be more information provided on the new model and consultation on the proposal put forward.”

The office said Mr Piccoli is awaiting the Minister’s response. 

Griffith residents will have the chance to see Mr Piccoli, the Health minister and the NSW Premier when the NSW cabinet comes to Griffith on 17 August.