Mater has launched a new after-hours medical testing service in Ipswich to help busy families and shift workers stay on top of their health.

The Mater Pathology centre adjoins the new QKampus private emergency centre operated by Hello Home Doctors at 14 Hill Street, Blackstone, and will provide Ipswich’s only late-opening service for blood and other medical test collections.

Robyn Bryant, Mater Pathology’s customer experience manager, 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.

“While that’s fine for most people, it doesn’t work for others who might be very busy looking after their children or find it difficult to get away from work.

“However, 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.

“At Mater, we make patients our priority and so we are very proud to be opening the first late-night pathology collection service in Ipswich.”

The Blackstone Mater Pathology collection centre, which is located in the former Blackstone State School building, will be open from 6pm to 11pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 10pm at weekends.

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.

Mater Pathology already operates collection centres across the Ipswich region, including Karana Downs, Silkstone, Yamanto, Ripley, Redbank Plains, Brookwater and Springfield.

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.