- $3.2 million Cook Labor Government initiative as part of Winter Strategy
- Successful Armadale Health Service pilot program delivered faster diagnosis
- Roll-out expanding to Rockingham General Hospital, with phased implementation to select regional EDs
Western Australians will benefit from faster diagnosis and improved emergency department (ED) care, with the expansion of rapid respiratory panel testing across some public hospitals.
This expansion is supported by a $3.2 million initiative under the Cook Labor Government's Winter Strategy, aimed at improving patient flow and reducing pressure on hospitals during peak respiratory illness periods.
The Spotfire respiratory testing system was successfully trialled at Armadale Health Service, helping health professionals quickly identify common respiratory illnesses such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
Following this success, this week the roll-out expanded to Rockingham General Hospital, with further phased implementation across selected regional emergency departments.
Previously, respiratory samples were transported off-site for laboratory testing, with results taking up to six hours. Testing is now available at the patient's bedside, reducing turnaround times to approximately 15 minutes.
Delivered through a partnership between PathWest and health service providers, the Spotfire platform can detect up to 15 viral and bacterial pathogens within minutes.
This supports earlier clinical decision-making, appropriate isolation of infectious patients, and timely admission or discharge.
For patients presenting with respiratory symptoms, this means faster assessment, earlier treatment, reducing unnecessary delays and improving their overall experience.
The roll-out comes as WA hospitals prepare for increased seasonal demand and higher hospital presentations linked to respiratory illness during the winter months.
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"This $3.2 million investment is helping expand rapid testing in our emergency departments, ensuring Western Australians receive timely diagnosis and treatment when it matters most.
"Respiratory illnesses place significant pressure on our health system each year, particularly during winter, and rapid testing is critical to ensuring patients receive care sooner.
"By giving health professionals faster test results in the ED, patients can be diagnosed and treated quicker, reducing waiting times and improving care.
"The success at Armadale Health Service shows how this technology can make a real difference, and we're now expanding it at selected hospitals across the State."
