Concerns have escalated regarding the safety of drinking water at Calvary Mater Hospital in New South Wales. Leaked images reveal that the hospital’s water tanks are severely corroded and contaminated with mould, raising fears about the quality of water supplied for drinking and bathing. The tanks, which were scheduled for replacement two years ago, were disconnected last week following urgent meetings between hospital management and various union representatives.
The hospital is currently sourcing water directly from the Hunter Water main while these issues are investigated. This development adds to a series of maintenance problems that have plagued the facility, including a significant mould outbreak in air conditioning systems and leaks that led to internal flooding, forcing the cancellation of chemotherapy treatments.
Camilla Smith, secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Calvary Mater branch, expressed profound distrust in the management company, Novacare, stating there is “zero trust” in their ability to maintain the building or ensure the safety of staff and patients. She criticized the company, saying, “This company is paid a lot of money to maintain this building, and clearly that’s not happening. Everyday the health of the staff and our patients is at risk.”
The Health Services Union has voiced significant concerns about the water quality and has demanded comprehensive testing along with reports on infrastructure conditions, maintenance records, and risk assessments. They highlighted the absence of pest control measures, which raises fears of contamination from vermin droppings and carcasses. It is believed that the tanks were last cleaned over a year ago, in April 2024.
The ongoing neglect at Calvary Mater has drawn attention to the hospital’s management structure, which operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) with Novacare—a consortium comprising four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell, and Medirest. Under this agreement, Novacare is tasked with maintaining the hospital’s infrastructure.
Despite the alarming state of the water tanks, James Ward, a director at Novacare, has refrained from commenting, citing confidentiality obligations within the contract with the state government. He has redirected inquiries to Hunter New England Health and the NSW government, both of which confirmed that Novacare is responsible for the maintenance and operational upkeep of the facility.
In June, SafeWork NSW issued an improvement notice to the hospital after identifying significant health and safety risks, including potential slips, electric shock, and inhalation of mould spores due to rainwater ingress and humidity. This notice followed an inspection that revealed overlooked issues, including mould in wards housing immunocompromised patients.
The NSW Health Minister has previously deemed the hospital’s maintenance problems “unacceptable” and convened meetings with management to address the situation. Despite these interventions, reports indicate that the mould outbreak and leaks remain unresolved.
In response to the deteriorating conditions, Hunter New England Health confirmed that the tanks are no longer supplying water to the hospital. They stated, “Any deteriorated tanks will be replaced by Honeywell as per our maintenance agreement.”
As the situation develops, many within the community continue to express their concerns about the safety of patients and staff at Calvary Mater Hospital, emphasizing the urgent need for effective management and infrastructure maintenance.
