Private pathology services to alleviate PCR backlog for public health system

Gold Coast residents and visitors are lining up for hours for Covid-19 tests, waiting days for results and in some cases being told tests couldn’t be located.

The Covid-19 patience test continues, with queues for hours, results taking days and in some cases being told tests were unable to be located.

Reports early on Tuesday indicate lines are already out the door as clinics reopen after the New Year break, with some queuing from 5am for the 7am open.

Anxious residents awaiting PCR results have been told by state-led pathology services their files cannot be tracked down in some instances.

Some Gold Coasters are so desperate to get a place in line that they are reportedly parking their cars outside or near testing clinics at night before returning in the early hours of the morning to beat the rush.

It comes as private laboratories are called in to assist with overwhelming testing numbers – but health officials says there’s no need for concern.

An unnamed source said he was given the “runaround” by Pathology Queensland after undergoing testing last week at its Bond University drive-through clinic.

Four days passed before his partner phoned the business for an update on when the pair might expect their results, to be told their files could not be located.

Testing continues at clinics across Gold Coast. Photo: Richard Gosling

It was instead revealed a crop of Gold Coast’s public testing clinics were outsourcing tests to private pathology providers to help the system process a backlog.

“(My partner) waited two hours to speak to them only to be told both of our records weren’t on file. The woman said the tests from that morning were most likely rerouted because of overflow, so they couldn’t even advise when we might find out.”

Queensland Health rejected claims the public system was buckling under intense pressure, saying use of private services “have been, and will continue to be, a critical part of total system capacity” in managing test numbers.

“During peak periods in this pandemic where demand exceeds capacity, Queensland Health has outsourced pathology processing where required – this is not new,” the spokesman said.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says festive season closures for private clinics added strain to the public system. Photo: Tertius Pickard

“High case numbers were expected, and an increase in testing was expected, which is why appropriate plans were put in place to manage the increase in demand when the borders opened.

“Part of that planning included continuing to increase capacity across the system, including in the private sector.”

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard conceded holiday closures in the private sector strained public systems: “Hopefully in the next few days as they come on board the capacity will increase. There is a limit to what we can do, we only have so much staff.”

Mayor Tom Tate said he was outraged by testing lines as well as the closure of many centres over the weekend as case numbers climbed: “My comment to the government is, if Omicron is not taking a holiday, why were our testing stations,” he said.

State-led testing clinics are outsourcing tests to private pathology provides as testing numbers soar across Gold Coast. Photo: Richard Gosling

“We’re fighting a pandemic but are we fighting it part time. It’s not good enough.

“Something is lacking, they should fix it. No need to explain what happened, we need more stations.”

Further attempts to alleviate heavy workloads include the procurement of 18 million rapid antigen tests to be offered free at public testing sites for people classified as close contacts, revealed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Queensland Government has secured 18 million rapid antigen tests to help alleviate demand on testing clinics. Picture: Brendan Radke

She said the supply would support new national protocols for close contacts and frontline workforces that came into effect last week: “Global demand for rapid antigen test kits is significant,” the Premier said.

“Securing an extra 18 million at-home tests for Queensland will help us meet demand as we transition to the new nationally agreed isolation and testing requirements for close contacts.

Shipments are expected to arrive sometime next week.

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