I want to reassure the community this will have absolutely no impact on where patients receive their care. 

Patients will continue to be treated by local clinicians at Griffith Base Hospital as they are now. They will not need to travel to Wagga for histopathology tests. 

This includes patients from other areas of the Western Riverina, including Leeton, who currently receive care at Griffith Base Hospital. 

There will be no change to the time it takes to make a diagnosis or provide patient results to local clinicians. 

The only change would be to how we deliver histopathology diagnostic reports to Griffith clinicians.

Under the new arrangements, histopathology samples collected from patients at Griffith will be sent to NSW Health Pathology’s Wagga laboratory for testing and diagnosis. Results will then be provided direct to Griffith clinicians.  

It will give Griffith clinicians access to a much larger team of pathologists as well as previously unavailable 24/7 expert histopathology advice and reporting. 

There will be no impact on any other part of our pathology lab at Griffith Base Hospital. It will remain open and we have recently added on-site rapid flu testing to our local service. 

We will continue talking directly with our staff, hospital management and clinicians to work through any questions they have.

This is simply about providing the best service for local patients and clinicians into the future.

Tracey McCosker, NSW Health Pathology’s Chief Executive. 

Murrumbidgee Local Health District acknowledges the concerns raised by the Griffith Base Hospital (GBH) Medical Staff Council.

Chief Executive Jill Ludford met with the doctors this week and will continue to work through each of their issues with them.

Griffith Base Hospital’s role in providing emergency care, maternity, paediatric and specialist services for the region are paramount and our intention is to increase the range of services available.

In recent improvements, the hospital is purchasing a new CT scanner, recruiting two new surgeons, a new social worker is being recruited and a new model of maternity care is being introduced.

The $35 million redevelopment funding recently announced by the Health Minister will see enhanced services for the community, including renal dialysis, oncology and upgraded intensive care unit.

The changes announced by NSW Health Pathology will not mean patients will have to travel to Wagga Wagga for pathology services.

Griffith Base Hospital has and will continue to play a vital role in our network of hospitals across the district and we appreciate the support and role our staff play.

Gayle Murphy, Murrumbidgee Local Health District chair.