Awanui Labs has been issued with a strike notice from the APEX union of intended action by its members for Tuesday 22 April, Wednesday 23 April and Thursday 24 April.
There will be a reduction of services on these dates.
- Patients are encouraged to check our website and should expect delays at those Awanui collection centres which are open between 22 – 24 April 2025.
- Where possible, you should encourage your patients to have their tests done either prior to or after the strike.
We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you and your patients and assure you we are doing our best to minimise the impact of this industrial action.
Collection centres with opening hours 22-24 April:
New Plymouth, Paraite Road 8.00am – 2.00pm
Stratford 8.30am – 2.00pm
All other collection centres will be closed.
Courier Services:
New Plymouth medical centres will receive courier pick ups from Awanui Lab couriers, however times may vary from the usual schedule. Medical Centres using NZ Courier services will run to the usual schedule.
Home visits:
Urgent phlebotomy services which have been arranged will be performed.
Laboratory services:
- The Histology department will have significantly reduced staffing levels during the days affected by the strike. There are expected impacts on histology turnaround times. Please do not book patients for Direct Immuno Fluorescence (DIF) during the strike days.
- The Microbiology and Molecular Pathology departments will have significantly reduced staffing levels during the days affected by the strike. To help maintain turnaround times for urgent testing we ask that:
- Requesters should reduce the amount of microbiology samples collected and sent to the laboratory for the week of 22 – 24 April.
- Please defer testing or use empiric treatment to manage common community infections where possible.
- See HealthPathways and the ‘diagnostic’ app (https://tinyurl.com/yckhve2h) for advice.
Links below:
HealthPathways
Diagnostic App