Mater has decided to permanently end its in-house pathology operations at Brisbane and Springfield and hand those services to outside providers, The Guardian reported, after closing the Brisbane anatomical pathology laboratory on 24 September due to safety concerns about potential formalin exposure.
The closure covers not only the anatomical pathology laboratory but all pathology services at both hospitals. The outsourced services will be delivered through Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Pathology Queensland, with the transition taking place over the next 12 to 18 months. The Brisbane lab is the facility responsible for foetal and newborn tissue and cell testing in cases of unexpected deaths.
The workforce affected across both hospitals covers more than 400 employees spanning full-time, part-time and casual arrangements. More than 100 positions will be lost within the next two months, with most remaining positions ending in 2027. Every employee whose role is affected has been informed of the decision.
A Mater spokesperson said an investigation into an abnormal exposure result remains ongoing. After 17 personal exposure monitoring samples were taken on 21 September, one employee recorded a result above workplace exposure standards.
Formalin, a water-and-formaldehyde solution, carries hazardous chemical classification and is governed by strict workplace safety requirements. Exposure is linked to irritation of the eyes, nose and respiratory system, possible allergic reactions, and a heightened risk of certain cancers.
Before the closure, staff working in the Mater Brisbane anatomical pathology laboratory had to wear protective respiratory equipment as a precautionary measure. Wearing respiratory equipment is not standard protocol in laboratories except in the event of a formalin spill or where levels may be above exposure standards.
A Mater spokesperson said that work on the laboratory could not be assessed separately from the broader sustainability of the pathology business, and that a review of all challenges facing pathology services prompted the permanent closure. Controls were put in place to address safety risks but reopening the lab would demand substantial long-term infrastructure work and capital investment. Medicare funding had not kept pace with rising workforce and property costs over the past decade, and scale and network density issues facing the organisation mean its existing operating model cannot be sustained over time.
Mater said patient care will not be affected, that the outsourcing model is in use by private hospital operators elsewhere in Australia, and that redirecting resources will benefit frontline clinical care. No action is currently required from patients, who will be contacted by their healthcare team should any change directly affect them. Queensland Health said responsibility for pathology service decisions rests with Mater Health, and committed to ongoing cooperation with Mater to protect patient access to required pathology services.
The United Workers Union, through Queensland secretary Fiona Scalon, said the transition could result in workers losing income and conditions despite doing the same work, and that redeployment opportunities are not guaranteed.
Reporting: The Guardian, ABC News, 7NEWS
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
