THE call has gone out to health providers to consider taking over Bendigo Health’s pathology services.Hospital chief executive officer John Mulder said yesterday he would call for expressions of interest from private laboratories and public pathology services.The decision came on the same day the organisation announced it would close its linen service, Loddon Linen.Mr Mulder said the pathology announcement was another step in the hospital’s review of its in-house service.“This exercise was never about saving money, it was always about providing the maximum range of quality services to this community with the money that we have available,” he said. “Bendigo Health’s pathology services is of high quality, but the current cost is close to twice that paid for pathology services in most other regional centres across Victoria. “There is no evidence to suggest that those other health services are receiving a lower quality of service; however, one thing is certain: those communities are receiving many millions of dollars worth of additional services that the people of Bendigo are missing out on today.”Bendigo Health has appointed a private pathology expert to work with its in-house service.The in-house service will have the opportunity to convince the hospital board to keep pathology in Bendigo Health’s hands once the review process is completed.State Labor politicians Jacinta Allan and Maree Edwards slammed the announcement and called on the government to intervene.“This decision will send a shudder through health services across regional Victoria as another Liberal-National government once again privatises health services,” Ms Allan said.Ms Edwards said the announcement was “devastating news” for staff and the thousands who signed a petition.Nationals MP Damian Drum said his government would seek clarification from Bendigo Health officials about the matter.“Decisions need to be made which protect and preserve Bendigo’s pathology unit achievements, its teaching capacity and its research capacity,” he said.More than 4600 people have signed a petition that urged Bendigo Health against privatising pathology.“The board and the executive are acutely aware of the level of interest in pathology issues within the Bendigo community,” Mr Mulder said yesterday.“As CEO, I have written to everybody who has signed a petition and tried to explain to them the reason for the review.“We hope they understand that at the end of the day it is about maintaining a high standard of care for the community.”The Medical Scientists Association of Victoria’s Paul Elliott said his union would write to Bendigo Health officials today seeking clarification about the matter.