Mater has launched a new after-hours medical testing service to help busy families and shift-workers stay on top of their health.
Located at Blackstone – between Springfield and Ipswich – the new Blackstone Mater Pathology collection centre now stands as the region’s only late-opening service for blood and other medical test collections.
It is open from 6pm to 11pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 10pm on weekends.
Mater Pathology customer experience manager Robyn Bryant said there was a growing demand in Ipswich for out-of-hours medical services.
“When GPs ask a patient to get a blood test, they usually have to get to a pathology collection centre before 5pm – and often before 3pm,” Ms Bryant said.
That makes it difficult for people who are busy during standard office hours, and may resort to putting off vital testing and care, Ms Bryant explained.
“The longer you wait to have your blood taken, the longer you wait for the results to come back – and the longer it is before you get the treatment you should.”
Additional details
The service is bulk-billed and accepts all GP pathology request forms for blood and other tests. No appointments are necessary and free parking is available.
It adjoins Q Kampus, a new private emergency centre operated by Hello Home Doctors, at 14 Hill Street, Blackstone – the location of the former Blackstone State School.
Mater Pathology already operates collection centres across the Ipswich region, including Springfield, Brookwater, Redbank Plains, and Ripley.
Mater operates Queensland’s largest not-for-profit network of public and private hospitals and healthcare services, including Mater Private Hospital Springfield.
The hospital is currently being expanded to deliver 174 public beds for the community – as well as a public emergency department, intensive care unit, and maternity services – due to open by the end of next year.
For more information, visit mater.org.au/health/services/mater-pathology/collection-centres.
See also: Speaking out about mental health
