The NSW Budget, to be handed down by NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey tomorrow, will deliver a $492 million NSW Health Pathology Statewide Hub in Westmead.
The investment will provide new and enhanced pathology services on the Westmead Health Precinct, including a new build for the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR).
The funding will also include an upgrade to the only high security PC4 biocontainment laboratory in NSW, which is used to test, isolate and research high risk infectious diseases that have the potential to be major infection threats to the community.
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis welcomed the funding saying Westmead has always been a major pathology hub for NSW.
“The critical importance of our pathology services at Westmead became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, for a time, all positive COVID-19 tests were directed to Westmead from both public and private pathology labs for genomic and serology testing,” Davis said.
“This rapid increase in demand during the pandemic revealed just how vital it is to have a service available with surge capacity and space for new technology to respond to emerging health challenges.”
In NSW alone, more than 100,000 clinical and scientific investigations are undertaken each day, with roughly 70 per cent of medical decisions relying on pathology investigations and results.
The Westmead laboratory alone conducts 3.5 million pathology related tests per year and has only received minimal refurbishments since it was built in 1978.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said this announcement is a step in the right direction for NSW, helping to boost the health care system.
“We know there’s more to do, but this new pathology hub is another step in rebuilding our health system after more than a decade of delay and neglect,” Minns said.
“It’s about ensuring our clinicians have the tools and technology they need to provide world-class care.”
Once finished, the current laboratory will be retained for future growth to be determined by NSW Health and the Western Sydney Local Health District.
The hub will also continue to link with other regional centres including Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Lismore servicing the more complex needs of regional and rural local health districts and providing education, training and research support.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said the investment will help to meet the health needs of the growing population of the state.
“We know there’s more to do, with demand on pathology services expected to increase with population growth and an ever-increasing ageing population which is why we’re making this half a billion-dollar investment at Westmead,” Park said.
“This budget delivers on this challenging but important work to rebuild essential health
services.”
