Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has welcomed the opening today of a dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) pathology collection centre in Tamworth, which will operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology (DHM) COVID-19 collection centre is great news for the people of Tamworth and surrounding areas, who are dealing with the threat of COVID-19 in our region,” Mr Joyce said.
The new facility at Shop 2/199 Peel Street is adjacent to the existing practice and will complement the COVID-19 collection centre in Armidale, at the rear of the 210 Rusden Street collection centre.
Mr Joyce said he’s been fighting hard to increase access to diagnostic services in New England.
“I went into bat with the Federal Government for DHM to get a Medicare licence so the new facility could open. It is so incredibly important during these uncertain times that we have access to the right testing and collection services in our local area. This shows that we are delivering on our efforts,” Mr Joyce said.
The DHM COVID-19 collection centre is an important link in the chain of diagnosing a person as having coronavirus.
DHM is a well-established pathology practice, whose reputation is founded on a commitment to Medical Leadership, as well as technical excellence and outstanding quality and service. The practice is run by doctors, for doctors, in order to offer the best possible care for their patients.
The two locations will enable DHM to provide routine pathology, and COVID-19-related services, in separate facilities, to the wider New England community.
DHM acknowledges the importance of pathology in clinical medicine and the opening of dedicated COVID-19 collection centres is another measure to support the local community at this critical time.
Mr Joyce said anyone requiring testing for COVID-19 or respiratory virus testing should make an appointment with the local Tamworth Laboratory staff by calling (02) 6766 2401.
“The promised Federal Government-funded Community Respiratory Clinic – for those with mild to moderate COVID-19 – is now on track to open in Tamworth imminently,” Mr Joyce said.
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