Getting a blood test is now even easier for Forbes residents, with NSW Health Pathology opening a second collection centre right in the centre of town.

The new collection centre is conveniently located at Forbes Medicine and Mind, 12 Cross Street, Forbes and will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

NSW Health Pathology’s Forbes Senior Supervising Scientist, Robyn Seberry, said the staff were excited to see the new collection centre opening.

“Our existing collection centre at Forbes Hospital will still be open and we’re proud to be able to provide an additional pathology service for local residents,” Ms Seberry said.

“Our collection staff have a wealth of experience and they’re experts at caring for their patients at all stages of life and making them feel safe and welcome. They also have plenty of experience collecting samples from children and they know how to make kids feel comfortable during blood tests.”

NSW Health Pathology is investing $300,000 in the new centre over the next three years as part of its commitment to provide quality pathology services to NSW communities.

Ms Seberry said the centre can take all pathology request forms and will provide services for patients who require ongoing tests to monitor their health conditions, including cancer and kidney disease.

“Our staff all live locally and they’re proud to provide high quality pathology services to their local community,” she said.

“The majority of the pathology tests will be performed at our Forbes Hospital laboratory and for some tests we will even be able to provide same-day results.

“Patients will also have access to highly specialised pathology testing thanks to NSW Health Pathology’s statewide net- work of laboratories.”

In Forbes about 60,000 tests are per- formed every year with 1000 patients every month. A broad range of onsite tests such as haematology (white cells, red cell, platelets and clotting function); biochemistry (assessing cholesterol, glucose, liver, kidney and cardiac function); immunohaematology (determining blood groups, antenatal screening and providing blood for transfusion) are carried out.

Bogan Gate CWA President Marion McIntyre welcomed seven members and visitors Cath Rawson and Cathie McGrath at their September meeting.

The thought was given by Gail McKay ‘Special people scatter seeds of kindness wherever they go’. Over the last couple of months the branch has been very busy catering for 2 funeral wakes.

Each year the Branch shares time together with fun and food at a Friendship Luncheon and this year several members enjoyed their lunch at the Bogan Gate Hotel.

The International Day and meeting was held in August with International Officer, Heather Veal organising a beautiful meal representing Papua New Guinea. Guest Speakers at the lunch Chris and Kay Ow- ens from Dubbo who had lived in PNG for 15 years, spoke of their time living there.

At the meeting on Thursday 19th September CWA members welcomed Ken Engsmyr, Parkes Rotary and Bill and Evelyn Shallvey also from Parkes. Bill spoke and shared photos of his trips to East Timor with several other local people to help the people of Timor. In recent time this group has supplied several large containers packed with surplus equipment from the old Parkes and Forbes Hospitals, Southern Cross and Mater Aged Care, including roofing from Southern Cross.

 

The Forbes Health Service is urging the community to stand clear when the Medical Retrieval helicopters are landing and taking off at the Health Service.

Lachlan Health Service’s Manager Liz Mitchell said, “The Medical Retrieval helicopters are an essential part of health care in rural and remote areas.”

“It can be exciting to watch the helicopters land or take off, but by-standers can put their safety, and the operation of the helicopters themselves, at risk if they’re standing too close.”

“The Helicopters are a fast and efficient means to transfer critically ill or injured patients to larger health facilities. It’s important we get patients into the helicopter and on their way to care as quickly as possible. The helicopters are heavy machinery and pose a safety risk to any people around the helipad during the landing or take-off procedure”.

The helipad is NOT public land. It is protected by the Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901, Members of the public must not be within 20 metres of the edge of the helipad during landing or take-off and must not approach the helicopter until the rotor blades are at a standstill, and only with the Helicopter pilot’s consent. People can be charged with trespass if they interfere with the helipad and/or helicopter. All vehicles must be parked at least 25 metres from the edge of the helipad. This restriction is clearly marked on the road.

The exclusion zone is to prevent injury to the helicopter crew and members of the public as the wind created during landing and take-off is very strong. Debris can also be sucked up into the rotor blades and cause damage to the helicopter which is a safety risk to the crew.

“We don’t want to see anyone suffer un- necessary injuries, so please follow the rules and keep yourself and others out of danger,” Liz said.

 

Motorists are reminded changes to the rule requiring them to slow down when passing stationary emergency vehicles came into force in NSW last week.

From 26 September:

• Drivers will no longer need to slow down to 40km/h on roads with speed limits of 90km/h or over.
• Drivers will continue to be required to slow down to 40km/h on roads with speed limits of 80km/h or under.
• The rule will be expanded to include tow trucks and breakdown assistance vehicles which are displaying yellow flashing lights while stopped on the road.

On roads with speed limits of 90km/h or over drivers will need to: