Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital inquiry hears more mould claims
Families, former patients and staff have blown the whistle on what they call failings at Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital. (ABC Newcastle: Nakita Jager)
In short:
Families who have lost loved ones have used submissions to an inquiry to raise concerns about what they call failures in a NSW hospital grappling mould and pest problems.
The inquiry was established after mould was discovered in a cancer ward at Newcastle's Calvary Mater hospital last year.
What's next?
The inquiry will hold its first in-person hearing in Newcastle next week.
Families who have lost loved ones have used submissions to an inquiry to blow the whistle on what they call failures in a NSW hospital grappling mould and pest problems.
A state parliamentary inquiry will hold its first hearing into Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital next week.
A dozen submissions have been published on the inquiry's web page, highlighting ongoing concerns about mould in air conditioning vents, lax infection control and maggots on the floor.
Submissions close next Tuesday.
Taylor North used her submission to talk about her father, Bradley North, who died from pneumonia in May 2023 from high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
"We weren't aware of the mould at the time he was in the hospital," she said.
"It was never mentioned to anyone nor did it look like there were any precautions being taken for mould infestation."
Julie Butcher said her brother had stage 4 lung cancer and died at the Calvary Mater in September 2024.
"On the 20 Sept James had one litre of fluid drained from his lungs," she said.
"I didn't understand why he was getting worse. James never got to come home on 30 Sept 2024.
"I'm devastated."
Cleaning with vinegar
A man who has had his name suppressed wrote a submission about his admission to the hospital in January this year.
The man said it appeared unclean and he suspected mould.
Mould was found on an air-conditioning grill at the Calvary Mater Hospital. (Supplied: Troy Stolz)
"These two people came into the room in clear plastic suits and something you would probably use to put water on to clean a floor or a wall," he said.
"I immediately smelt vinegar. I know what vinegar is used for and it's used for taking mould off walls and floors.
"They were in there for half an hour."
Safety fears
Most of those who have made a submission so far have had their names suppressed, including a woman who lost her husband in February last year.
Mould was found in the hospital's air-conditioning system last year. (Supplied: Troy Stolz)
In her submission, the woman said he was being treated for acute myeloid leukaemia when he became concerned about getting sicker in "a single room where the temperature was freezing".
"After a few hours he started experiencing breathing problems requiring oxygen and a horrible cough.
"He was very worried and told me he felt the hospital was unsafe.
"I wonder if it was the mould affecting his lungs." the woman said.
The Calvary Mater has a notice on its website for patients and families updating developments within the hospital.
"We want to assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our patients, their carers, and our staff remains our highest priority," the Calvary Mater notice reads.
Historical issues
Some submissions allege problems dating back many years.
Keiran Moroney's mother died in the Mater Hospital in October 2007 after completing cancer treatment.
In her submission, Ms Moroney said she had raised concerns about the mould back then and was ignored.
"There was visible black mould on the walls, around the windows and upon the bed head," her submission said.
"The smell [of] the air in that room is something I will never forget nor forgive."
Stephen Bennett used his submission to talk about his father, who was in the Calvary Mater in 2014.
He said he remembers issues back then, alleging there was "mould and rats inside the cancer and chemo ward shortening the life of my late father, who was already suffering from mesothelioma."
"He died in front of me in there in 2014."
The inquiry is also looking at how the performance of the Calvary Mater Hospital as a public private partnership (PPP) compares with other healthcare PPPs across New South Wales.
Issues will be fixed 'as quickly as possible', minister says
Earlier this week it was revealed a snap review into New South Wales hospitals had found 112 non-routine issues over the past year, including the at Mater.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the health system would work "as quickly as possible" to fix the issues.
Ryan Park recently announced a snap review into major maintenance issues across the state's hospitals, including the Mater. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
In a statement, Calvary health care says it has prepared a submission for the inquiry and will respond to the contents of that submission during the hearing in Newcastle next week.
Its online notice to patients says it is working to address problems at the site.
"Comprehensive control measures within our control have been implemented across the hospital to manage and reduce the risk of mould and pest management," the notice said.
'Compelling submissions'
The chair of the parliamentary inquiry, Greens MLC Amanda Cohn, said the submissions so far raised several concerns.
"We've had some really compelling submissions from people who have had family cared for at the Mater who obviously really invested in the quality of care there,"she said.
"I've spoken in Parliament before about staff having reported issues through the proper channels as far back as 2017.
"So it's taken a very long time to get to this very pointy end of needing to have a parliamentary inquiry."
The first hearing is scheduled for Newcastle next week.