Mater to permanently close pathology labs, affecting 400 jobs

400 employees will lose their positions at Mater Health as the organization permanently shuts down its in-house pathology services at the Brisbane and Springfield hospitals. The decision, announced on Tuesday, 3 November, follows a safety investigation and ongoing financial difficulties. Specialist providers Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Pathology Queensland will assume responsibility for the testing operations.

The closure stems from a precautionary shutdown of the Brisbane anatomical pathology laboratory on 24 September. Monitoring data collected on 21 September revealed that one staff member's exposure to formalin exceeded workplace safety standards. Formalin is a hazardous chemical mixture of water and formaldehyde that can irritate respiratory systems and is linked to certain cancers. At the time of the incident, laboratory staff were required to wear protective respiratory equipment and personal monitors, a precaution not typically standard in the field unless exposure limits are threatened.

An internal email sent to pathology staff on 3 November stated that infrastructure and safety concerns drove the decision. The message noted that there was no quick or simple solution to the issues identified during the probe. A Mater spokesperson confirmed that while measures were introduced to mitigate risks, reopening the facilities would require substantial investment in long-term infrastructure changes. The hospital group determined that these costs could not be sustained within the current operating model of its pathology business.

Mater stated that outsourcing the services will preserve the quality of patient care and free up resources for clinical treatment. The Brisbane facility is a not-for-profit tertiary hospital funded by Queensland Health and Mater Private Hospitals, while the Springfield site provides both public and private care. The internal correspondence acknowledged that employees had faced uncertainty regarding the future of the service for some time prior to the final decision.

Queensland Health indicated that the decision to manage pathology services rested with Mater Health. The department reported that most services have already transitioned to private providers. Pathology Queensland has accepted a limited number of additional perinatal autopsies within its existing capacity and will continue working with Mater to ensure patients maintain access to necessary tests.

Fiona Scalon, secretary of the United Workers Union Queensland, warned that the changes could have severe consequences for the affected workers. She noted that if redeployment opportunities are not available, staff could lose a substantial portion of their income and employment conditions. Scalon pointed out that different enterprise agreements and employment terms across employers mean that workers performing similar tasks may face different pay and benefits structures under the new arrangements.