Pathology Workers Strike Over Cootamundra Lab Closure

Pathology workers at Young Hospital will stage a full-day stop work action on February 26, 2025, in response to the NSW Government's decision to close the Cootamundra Pathology Lab. All staff members at the Young Pathology Lab are expected to participate in the industrial action, marking an escalation in the ongoing dispute over pathology services in the Murrumbidgee region. "This is not a decision our members have taken lightly," said HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes. "But the closure of Cootamundra's pathology lab will create a devastating ripple effect across our regional healthcare system. The disruption from our one-day action pales in comparison to the permanent damage this closure will inflict on healthcare delivery in our region." The Young Pathology Lab, which is already operating at capacity, will be expected to absorb additional workload from Cootamundra following the closure. "Young's lab already refers complex cases to Wagga. Adding Cootamundra's workload to this system will create dangerous delays in diagnostic testing and compromise patient care across the entire region." The HSU warns that the closure will result in: - Increased wait times for crucial diagnostic results - Delays to emergency department responses - Disruption to surgical schedules - Increased pressure on already stretched pathology services in Young and Wagga - Potential loss of skilled healthcare workers from the region The stop work action will proceed unless the NSW Government agrees to reverse its decision and maintain the Cootamundra Pathology Lab's operations.