The area dedicated to studying and diagnosing diseases will be more than 70% smaller than in the current hospital, although Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) has said full services will be maintained by off-site provision.
Documents released by HNZ last week revealed the design cutbacks approved by the Government in December included a reduction in space earmarked for pathology.
On-site pathology had been reduced to acute clinical function only, at 350sq m, the value management advice and request for additional funding document said.
The document was approved by ministers in December before $90 million worth of design changes were announced along with a $110 million funding boost to address a $200 million budget blowout.
The Dunedin-based president of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science, Terry Taylor, said pathology and laboratory services were critical to a functioning hospital system, yet were being "shoved in a corner" and treated as an afterthought.
The Covid-19 pandemic had demonstrated the importance of its work, but no-one had learned anything, he said.
"We had to up our capacity and try and squeeze things in, and we just did not have the room.
"It would be really nice for people to come to us and say ‘what do you actually need to do your job?’."
The reduction meant the department would need an off-site location.
This was "inappropriate" and would be a hindrance in liaising with the hospital, where 70% to 80% of clinical decisions relied on laboratory testing.
Another document released last week comparing current and future hospital capacity said the shell area for pathology had been reduced from 1300sq m to 350sq m.
However, the change would have "no impact on service provision".
Pathology services were to have been shell space only, and fitted out by a contracted provider.
The fit-out was not included in the detailed business case and full pathology services would be maintained.
Off-site pathology work was to be done by a contracted provider, and possibly connected by pneumatic tubes, the document said.
Southern Community Laboratories owner Asia Pacific Healthcare Group (APHG) said decisions on the new hospital were a matter for HNZ.
Chief executive Anoop Singh said the plan for the new hospital would mean space for acute and urgent testing was provided on-site, but community and other hospital testing services would likely have to take place at a community-based laboratory.
APHG would work collaboratively with HNZ to ensure the new laboratory’s scope and configuration was well designed and supported, he said.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand delivery of infrastructure and investment group director Monique Fouwler said this was similar to the current setup, where some services were already delivered off-site.
Laboratory space was larger at the current hospital, where there was about 1500sq m, she said.
"It is common in modern hospitals to have some pathology services delivered off-site and full pathology services will be maintained."
The current space allocation came from guidance from the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, she said.
"We will have the planned design for pathology services independently reviewed to confirm the allocation."
