Patients and clinicians in Murrumbidgee will have access to faster and reliable pathology results with new technology for the region's public laboratories.
The Minns Labor Government is investing $2.8 million in the latest technology, including digital solutions, Point of Care Testing and greater automation.
New chemical pathology analysers, digital morphology scanners and point of care testing devices have been rolled out across the region and are already providing more efficient diagnostic services.
Ageing chemical pathology analysers have already been replaced at Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra, Young, Tumut, Deniliquin and Griffith. These analysers carry out a range of tests, including for liver and kidney function and monitoring for diabetes, making up a large proportion of testing ordered in hospitals.
An automated track system was also installed at NSW Health Pathology's Wagga Wagga laboratory which has improved the movement and processing of samples.
The rollout of digital morphology scanners and reporting is currently underway at Wagga Wagga, Young, Griffith, Deniliquin, Tumut and Cootamundra. This will modernise blood film analysis for conditions like leukaemia and other blood cancers, reduce turnaround times and improve patient safety.
Digital morphology is a game-changer for smaller, regional hospitals with no haematologists on-site and will revolutionise how staff work. Previously, films were couriered to another larger referral site for review.
Once the equipment is operational, the films will be reviewed by haematologists at those referral hospitals before the patient even lands there, meaning treatment and testing plans are already in place.
Point of Care Testing technology has also already been rolled out to Young, Cootamundra and Deniliquin hospitals, with Tumut also expected to receive the devices early this year.
Point of Care Testing technology provides pathology results within minutes, enabling doctors to diagnose patients faster and make critical treatment decisions without the need to send samples to a laboratory.
These devices provide reliable, accurate results and most tests take between 5 and 15 minutes. So far, 95 per cent of Emergency Department staff in these Murrumbidgee hospitals have been trained and supported in the use of the new devices.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"Our laboratory staff are a critical part of our health care team. The results they provide help our clinicians make critical decisions to support patient care in our hospitals.
"This new equipment is improving the way staff work in the laboratory, providing them with the latest in the tools needed to detect, diagnose and treat disease, as well as manage long-term medical conditions.
"This investment in our regional communities is about providing modern, state of the art testing equipment to help improve patient care and support our hardworking laboratory staff to continue to provide the highest quality pathology service."
