Eight metropolitan PathWest collection centres are now dedicated exclusively to COVID-19 specimen collection for patients referred by their GP.
Patients with GP referrals can attend their nearest collection centre located in Nedlands, Osborne Park, Mandurah, Belmont, West Leederville, Kelmscott, Jandakot and Fremantle.
Patients in regional Western Australia with a GP referral can attend one of the 29 collection centres that are testing for COVID-19.
Collection centre staff will collect samples for COVID-19 and provide information about straightforward ways individuals can help contain community spread of the disease.
Attendees at the collection centres must have a GP referral.
PathWest has also increased its mobile collection service, with five vehicles now available in Perth to take at-home samples for patients who have a GP referral, but feel too unwell to leave home. A campaign to recruit more phlebotomists is underway to further grow this service.
In another measure, by the end of this week the PathWest laboratory at Fiona Stanley Hospital will begin testing for the COVID-19 virus to increase PathWest’s testing capacity.
It will be business as usual at PathWest’s remaining 15 metropolitan collection centres for patients who require normal pathology services.
The expansion of collection capability follows the opening of three dedicated COVID-19 clinics located at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital.
To find your nearest PathWest dedicated COVID-19 collection centre, visit https://pathwest.health.wa.gov.au
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“Western Australians can be assured that we are working extremely hard to minimise and contain the spread of this disease.
“It is a massive and well co-ordinated effort across our health services from clinicians, scientists, pathologists and hundreds of health support staff.
“We can all play our part in straightforward ways, by washing our hands, practising good hygiene if you need to cough or sneeze, and staying home if you’re unwell.
“My grateful thanks to our health service staff and the community of Western Australia for working together on this important public health issue.
“Increasing the number of PathWest collection centres dedicated to COVID-19 is the latest step we are taking to beat this disease.
“Patients with a GP referral can attend their closest dedicated collection centre and be reassured they will be tested straight away, and their results processed as a priority.
“The new dedicated collection centres boost the service offered by the three dedicated clinics at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital.
“Other patients are able to attend PathWest’s remaining collection centres for their usual tests, away from COVID-19 testing.
“If we all do our part we can work together to combat the spread of this disease.”
