Joanna Tucker, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Residents in Yorketown and Minlaton have raised concerns about long wait times for blood tests.

Stephanie Parsons, of Minlaton, said that, although she did not often need a blood test, she thought the delays others regularly faced were bizarre.

Last month, Ms Parsons visited the SA Pathology clinic in Yorketown between 9am and 11.30am but was not seen.

At that time, the Yorketown and Minlaton centres were open only three and two days a week respectively, and only until 12.30pm.

By midday, Ms Parsons was asked by an employee whether she considered herself a “priority”.

“People were pretending they were priority and then you had to be like, ‘I don’t think we are — I think that person doing cancer treatment is probably more so’ — it was ridiculous,” she said.

“You almost had to go around the room and see who was the sickest, it was bizarre.”

The following day, Ms Parsons tried the Minlaton clinic, arriving after the school drop-off at 8.45am. She was given number 17 and was eventually seen at 10.30am.

Fortunately, one of her clients, who was also waiting for a blood test, offered to text her when they were done so she could return to work.

“I personally couldn’t afford to wait around again,” Ms Parsons said.

She was concerned that vulnerable community members, including people with diabetes, pregnant individuals and the elderly, were left waiting outside in the cold while fasting.

“It just blows me out of the water, but also, I’m a hairdresser and one thing I just can’t see is why we don’t do a booking system,” she said.

“So there is not this waiting out the front, ridiculous behaviour where you have got to literally run to get the first ticket number.

“It just seems so weird to keep doing that in this day and age.”

Ms Parsons noted that southern Yorke Peninsula had gained more doctors at Minlaton and Yorketown in the past year, which could be contributing to increased demand.

“We have more doctors now, and they’re clearly just going to refer more checks and everything — and that is what has caught up with this community,” she said.

“I’m definitely not knocking the workers — the workers are pumping through them.

“It is the system and the structure of it all.”

She said the wait times particularly worried her because many people in her life were elderly.

“There was a gentleman at Yorketown who was getting a bit huffy and puffy, and you feel sorry for them,” she said.

“There would have been a 90-yearold at Yorketown sitting next to me and she got there at 9am, and at 11.30am she might not have been seen — and she was fasting.

“It takes someone like me to go there one time and say, ‘this is a joke’.”

Ms Parsons also expressed sympathy for the clinic staff.

“The poor blood people are working for every cent they’re making per hour,” she said.

“They’re rushed, they are under the pump from 8.30am.

“I don’t think it’s fair we are putting them under that pressure.”

She also expressed frustration that feedback could only be given via a QR code posted on the wall.

“No one 50-plus will look at that QR code and do that survey,” she said.

One of Ms Parsons’ clients, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted SA Pathology on May 12 to raise concerns about the delays.

They were told services would return to five days a week at Yorketown that week, and at Minlaton the following week.

However, on May 28, the client said that, according to online information, both clinics were still not operating five days a week.

Parliamentary response

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis brought the issue up in State Parliament on June 4, stating Yorketown had been reduced to two days a week and Minlaton to three days.

He said the issue was a strong theme at the recent health inquiry hearing at Yorketown.

In response, Minister for Health Chris Picton said that both centres had traditionally been five days a week but, due to changes in March and April, the Yorketown centre was temporarily closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

“I am happy to report some good news in that the staff member has now been recruited and trained and the Yorketown centre is now currently back up and running at full capacity, five days a week, I am advised,” Mr Picton said.

“Similarly, we are recruiting an additional staff member for the Minlaton centre.

“While that is currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, as soon as we have that recruitment completed, the aim of SA Pathology is to reopen the centre back to five days a week to provide that important service for the constituents of the Member’s electorate.” 

Extended hours

After gaining more staff, the Yorketown and Minlaton SA Pathology centres have resumed operating from 8.30am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Five-day services recommenced on May 12 at Yorketown and on June 13 at Minlaton.

In a statement to the YP Country Times, SA Pathology said recent staff retention issues on Yorke Peninsula had led to a temporary reduction in collection centre opening hours, with staff from the Wallaroo Laboratory required to take on additional duties to maintain services at Yorketown and Minlaton.

They also said that SA Pathology had implemented online booking systems at several sites across its network and was continuing to roll them out to more locations.

“We are committed to delivering exceptional patient care, and we appreciate all feedback about how we can improve the services,” they said.

“As well as our QR code survey, feedback can be submitted online or by downloading the feedback form at www.sapathology. sa.gov.au, by calling 08 8222 3000, or emailing HelloSAPathology@sa.gov.au.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 1 July 2025.