We have written to Western Health seeking a review of the decision not to provide us with certain information regarding the contract for the provision of pathology services, as reported in Stat 808.

In a memo dated 4 July 2011 Kath Cook, CEO of WH, stated that the Dorevitch contract will increase the number of on-site consulting pathologists available to Western Health and “include cover for the sub-specialities of pathology”.

We understand that there is no on-site pathologist at Sunshine Hospital and there is unlikely to be one in the near future. Sunshine Hospital is one of the fastest growing hospitals in Victoria, with busy obstetrics, emergency & ICU services, a teaching, training and research facility and a planned expansion of cancer services www.wh.org.au/Corporate_Information/Our_Services/Sunshine_Hospital/

It is perverse that Western Health has brought imaging services back in-house ‘to ensure development of the service is aligned with community needs’ while at the same time contracting out pathology services. Engineering and biomedical services have also been brought back in house.

So why the budget airline model for pathology?