Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:35p.m.
The Health and Disability Commissioner believes he has been left with no other option but to turn to ask Health Minister Tony Ryall to intervene over Auckland's lab testing issues.
Australian company Labtests took over blood and specimen testing from Diagnosic Medlab last month. But it has been a rough ride so far, with the Health and Disability Commission fielding complaints from patients, health workers and hospitals over delays to the service.
Commissioner Ron Paterson says there is the potential the service could be putting lives at risk, and Labtests needs to front up as to why they are making mistakes.
In one incident, the test results of a newborn baby who was urgently admitted to Starship Hospital took more than 13 hours to come through.
RadioLIVE