Brown said the new services would ensure that the people of NSW had access to the most cutting-edge technologies and digital pathology, no matter where they lived.
“It provides a nexus between researchers and pathologists so that we can translate the most up-to-date testing to serve personalised medicine,” he said. “It’s about the right test at the right time to get the right treatment.”
The new ICPMR will include an upgrade to NSW’s only high-security PC4 biocontainment laboratory, which is used to test, isolate, and research high-risk infectious diseases.
Brown said this highly specialised laboratory, capable of containing pathogens such as Ebola and COVID, “would allow us to provide the best information we can to predict and manage possible pandemics”.
The new lab is also aimed at helping Westmead Hospital run more efficiently, from the emergency department to surgery services, Brown said.
Parramatta MP Donna Davis said the critical importance of Westmead’s pathology services became apparent during the COVID pandemic when, for a time, all positive COVID tests were directed there for genomic and serology testing.
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“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.”
The hub will continue to link with regional centres, including Orange, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, and Lismore to service the more complex needs of patients in regional and rural areas.
Premier Chris Minns said the government was focused on delivering the essential health infrastructure that communities across NSW need and deserve.
“It’s about ensuring our clinicians have the tools and technology they need to provide world-class care,” Minns said.
The initiative is in its planning phase, and no date has been set for the completion of the new hub.
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