NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said 70 per cent of pathology samples from Cootamundra were transferred to Sydney, Young, or Wagga Wagga for testing. Photo: NSW Health Pathology.
Pathology staff at Young Hospital have staged a full-day stop-work protest against the closure of the Cootamundra Hospital pathology lab, claiming the NSW Government has failed to answer basic questions about how vital emergency medical services will operate without available blood supplies.
Health Services Union (HSU) representatives and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined pathology workers at Young Hospital on Wednesday morning (26 February) to rally against the decision.
NSW Pathology held an information session for Cootamundra residents on Monday (24 February) to outline the regional networked service model. However, HSU official Sam Oram told Region the session failed to address key concerns.
“I was very concerned after the session. They couldn’t answer basic questions about how the service is going to operate,” Mr Oram said.
“They couldn’t explain how caesarean sections would be performed without available blood supplies. A former nurse pointed out that O-negative blood, which is often in short supply, is not always readily available. What happens if someone comes in with a snakebite?”
Mr Oram also raised concerns about staffing, stating that NSW Pathology did not provide information on how many Cootamundra workers were willing to relocate to Young.
“The information I have suggests they’re going to lose half their workers, and yet they have no plans on how to replace them,” he said. “And Wagga already has a shortage.
“They didn’t even bother to check how many workers were willing to stay or leave. It’s concerning that they didn’t do basic due diligence before making the final decision.”
On 20 February, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke raised the issue during NSW Parliament’s Question Time, calling on Premier Chris Minns to intervene.
“Will you meet with me and frontline health workers to discuss your government’s reckless decision to shut down the Cootamundra Hospital pathology lab?” she asked.
“This closure will push already stretched services in Young — over 50 km away for many — to breaking point, putting lives at risk. Instead of taking responsibility, the Premier passed it on to Health Minister Ryan Park.”
Ms Cooke confirmed that Mr Park had since agreed to meet with her, HSU representatives, and pathology staff to discuss the closure’s impact.
“I am hopeful that these combined efforts will provide the minister with undeniable evidence to reverse this decision,” she said.
Mr Park defended the transition, stating that 70 per cent of pathology samples from Cootamundra are transferred to Sydney, Young, or Wagga Wagga for testing.
“The expansion of services will see more testing undertaken within the local region at the Young laboratory,” he said.
“The transition will provide new technology, faster testing, and a range of benefits for the Cootamundra community. Most testing will be performed at an expanded Young lab with extended operating hours, including weekends, and enhanced point-of-care testing at Cootamundra Hospital — where patients can have their blood tested on-site and by the bedside.”
Mr Park said the collection services for inpatients and outpaints would be retained in Cootamundra.
He told the parliament there would be a remote-release blood fridge to store O-negative blood and no reduction in the overall staffing level.
The Health Minister said the initiative was first introduced under the former Coalition government.
“This is an initiative we have taken for this particular area, and for communities like Temora that don’t have a laboratory on-site, this model is already in place,” he said.
NSW Health Pathology Chief Executive Vanessa Janissen said the regional networked service model would transition Cootamundra’s laboratory services to an expanded Young facility over the next six months.
“We will invest in new, enhanced point-of-care technology at Cootamundra Hospital, including full blood count testing for urgent on-site analysis, along with additional courier runs to support same-day testing,” Ms Janissen said.
She said point-of-care technology would allow clinicians to access pathology results more quickly, improving patient care.
Ms Janissen also assured the community that similar models had been successfully operating in other regional centres, including Temora, Muswellbrook, Yass, Singleton, Cessnock, and Parkes.
“We want to create better career development opportunities for our staff and offer increased roster flexibility with reduced callbacks and overtime. Bringing teams together gives us the opportunity to create a sustainable service for the future,” she said.
“Moving laboratory testing from Cootamundra to an expanded service in Young will allow NSW Health Pathology to broaden the testing menu for the local region, reducing the need to send samples to other laboratories.”
Ms Janissen acknowledged the decision was not what some in the community wanted but reassured Cootamundra residents they would continue to have access to advanced testing and laboratory services.
“NSW Health Pathology and Murrumbidgee Local Health District are working together to ensure there is no impact on clinical services at Cootamundra and Young hospitals, and we will continue to review our service to ensure we’re providing a quality service,” she said.
Original Article published by Shri Gayathirie Rajen on Region Riverina.
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