The MSAV’s long running campaign to keep the in-house pathology service at Bendigo Health continues, with community support.

The latest state of play is that following earlier calls by Bendigo Health for expressions of interest in providing pathology services, Invitations to Tender went out to 3 private providers at the end of October 2011, with tenders closing on 30 November 2011. We understand that only 2 private providers have tendered for the work, the contract for which is 5 years, with a 5 year option.

However, the retention of the provision of the in-house pathology service remains a possibility. The tender documents specify that neither the lowest price tender or any tender will necessarily be accepted, which would allow the in-house service to remain in place.