The concerns were aired during a protest by laboratory staff outside Dunedin Hospital yesterday, about the lack of pay parity with staff working for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ).
Specialist medical laboratory scientist and Apex union member Terry Taylor said Awanui staff and other private sector medical laboratory workers, received about 30% less pay than HNZ laboratory staff, for doing the same job.
He said he understood both sides of the situation.
"The reality here is that ultimately, we just can’t keep going the way we’re going.
"It’s very difficult to recruit staff, because obviously we can’t pay them the amount that they should be paid to work in these laboratories, so our retention is not great.
"The company is finding it difficult and this is turning into a perfect storm."
A protesting laboratory worker, who declined to be named, said he had been working in the profession for the past 30 years — both in New Zealand and overseas — and had never seen morale so low in a laboratory.
"I’ve never seen it so poorly staffed as it is here.
"We’re definitely getting pretty close to some serious delays in getting [blood test] results out.
"Staff are beginning to get overworked."
He said they were very meticulous, but they were human too.
"We’re getting to the point where something is going to go wrong if we maintain the current staffing levels.
"I’m extremely concerned that harm could happen."
Another protester, who declined to be named, highlighted the danger.
"Basically, if you get a blood test, we’re the people that test that blood, and we’re involved in 70% of diagnoses entirely, and 100% of cancer diagnoses.
"So we’re a fairly integral part of the health system."
"We’ve got a massive drain in talent.
"The reason more people haven’t left is because the private providers almost have a monopoly on lab testing in the South Island.
She said there was nowhere else to go.
"If you’re a medical laboratory scientist, you’re a little bit stuck.
"I feel trapped here."
She said it was also becoming more difficult to get people to train in medical laboratory science and join the profession because of the "massive pay gap".
"They’re just turning their backs on the profession, and I can’t blame them."
Mr Taylor said the protesters did not want to be out picketing, they would rather be doing their job.
"But this is our only way of highlighting [the problem] for the public, for the politicians, and for everyone else out there — particularly the HNZ leadership."
Rolling strikes will continue around the country this week.
Awanui chief executive officer Anoop Singh said Awanui respected the rights of its team members to take industrial action, and acknowledged the concerns raised by staff.
"We recognise the critical work our people do every day in supporting the health system and the care of New Zealanders.
"Like others in the private pathology sector, we’re operating in a funding environment that hasn’t kept pace with the financial pressures created by public sector pay equity settlements.
"We are actively engaged in discussions with HNZ to find a sustainable solution that supports fair outcomes for our people and ensures long-term access to high-quality pathology services."
He said the safety of patients was his top priority, and robust quality and risk management systems were in place to ensure the continued integrity of Awanui’s services.
"Throughout this period of industrial action, we are working closely with HNZ to ensure New Zealanders continue to receive the urgent and critical care they need."
