Lucas hub becomes testing site

A NEW COVID-19 testing laboratory has been established at the Lucas Community Hub.

The site will be run by UFS Dispensaries and is funded by the Federal government.

Open from Tuesday, 14 April between 8.30am and 5pm, the lab will not take walk-ins and testing is by appointment arranged through GPs, hospitals or via the COVID-19 hotline and is for people who meet the current criteria.

UFS CEO Lynne McLennan said the laboratory was a key piece to the local effort combating the virus.

“This facility is an important part of the response that will help local residents rapidly access testing and advice and be referred back to either their general practitioner or Ballarat Health Services for ongoing care,” she said.

Federal member for Ballarat, Catherine King, praised the community’s response to the pandemic and subsequent challenges and said the new testing site would, “Save lives.”

“As a community we are all doing our bit to ensure that our hospitals are as ready as they can be for whatever develops over the coming months,” she said.

“In Ballarat we are lucky to have access to world-class GP practices and hospitals. This Commonwealth funded respiratory clinic… will take a bit more pressure off hard working hospital staff and GPs by diverting all potential coronavirus patients to one easy to access testing location.

“This will make our community better able to identify cases, stop the spread and save lives.”

Municipal services located at the Lucas Community Hub have been moved to make way for the temporary laboratory, with the site chosen due to its location, parking availability and consultation rooms that allow for suitable social distancing during testing.

The Lucas Kindergarten has been moved and the City of Ballarat’s Child and Maternal Health Services have gone across to Sebastopol Library

Mayor Cr Ben Taylor said UFS’ role in combating COVID-19 was welcomed.

“UFS is a proven, trusted leader in community health and medical delivery, and I am confident their trained clinical staff will deliver a quality, safe and responsive health service at this testing clinic,” he said.