Concerns have escalated regarding the safety of drinking water at the Calvary Mater hospital in New South Wales after images surfaced showing the facility’s water tanks in a state of severe corrosion and contamination. The tanks, which are critical for the hospital’s potable water supply, have not been maintained properly and were due for replacement in April 2024. Last week, hospital management disconnected the tanks as emergency meetings with various union representatives took place.
Currently, the hospital is sourcing its water directly from the Hunter Water main while investigations into the quality of the existing water are underway. These latest fears about water safety add to a series of ongoing maintenance issues at the hospital, which is also battling a dangerous mould outbreak in its air conditioning systems. Internal flooding has previously led to the cancellation of chemotherapy treatments, raising further alarm among staff and patients.
The Health Services Union (HSU) has voiced strong concerns regarding the state of the water tanks. They have called for comprehensive water quality tests, infrastructure reports, and risk assessments to ensure the safety of patients and staff. An HSU spokesperson emphasized the necessity for a formal work health and safety investigation, stating, “The Union believes it is high time a work health and safety investigation was conducted.”
The absence of pest control measures raises additional worries that the water could be contaminated with vermin droppings and carcasses. Reports indicate that the tanks were last cleaned over a year ago, raising questions about the hospital’s maintenance protocols.
Management Under Scrutiny
The handling of the hospital’s infrastructure has come under intense scrutiny, especially given its management structure. The Calvary Mater operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) with a consortium named Novacare, which includes companies such as Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell, and Medirest. This partnership places the responsibility for maintaining the hospital’s facilities squarely on Novacare.
Camilla Smith, the secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association at Calvary Mater, expressed a lack of confidence in Novacare’s ability to manage the hospital effectively. “This company is paid a lot of money to maintain this building, and clearly that’s not happening,” she stated. “Every day the health of the staff and our patients is at risk. It’s extra stressful in an already stressful job.”
Attempts to obtain comments from Novacare were met with silence. Director James Ward cited confidentiality requirements bound to its contract with the state government. Previous inquiries directed to both Hunter New England Health and the NSW government confirmed that Novacare retains responsibility for the hospital’s maintenance.
In June, SafeWork issued an improvement notice to the hospital for failing to ensure reasonable health and safety standards. This notice highlighted risks such as slips, electric shocks, and inhalation of mould spores due to excessive moisture and humidity. Despite a prior inspection by SafeWork, several issues, including the mould outbreak in areas with immunocompromised patients, were not addressed.
In light of these ongoing challenges, the NSW Health Minister recently declared that the maintenance issues at Calvary Mater are unacceptable. The Minister met with hospital management to discuss solutions, yet reports indicate that the mould outbreak and leaks remain unresolved.
Current Actions and Future Plans
As of now, Hunter New England Health confirmed that the tanks are not supplying water to the facility. A spokesperson stated, “Any deteriorated tanks will be replaced by Honeywell as per our maintenance agreement.”
This situation underscores the pressing need for action to address the deteriorating conditions within the hospital. Patients and staff alike are left to navigate an environment fraught with health risks, prompting calls for immediate intervention and oversight to ensure that the fundamental standards of care and safety are upheld at Calvary Mater.
