Newcastle hospital ward closed after pests rain down on patients
At a mold-infested hospital in NSW, maggots fell from ceiling vents onto patients, forcing public-private operators to close wards and cancel surgeries.
Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital evacuated its 16-bed hematology unit and closed a four-bed room after maggots rained down from air conditioning ducts on Monday.
Planned surgeries were canceled and cancer patients were transferred to the hospital’s general medicine department and other hospitals.
“These are not minor disruptions that have direct and distressing impacts on patients, their families and our hospital staff,” said a spokesman for Calvary, the organization responsible solely for the hospital’s operations under a complex public-private partnership agreement.
Maggots were noticed a week ago Newcastle Herald reported.
A spokesman for the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) said the investigation into the source of the pests was ongoing. But one possible cause is a mold infestation in the hospital’s air conditioning system, which led to the closure of the hematology clinic this month.
Flies attracted to decaying organic matter lay their eggs in the mold from which the maggots emerge.
Private consortium Novacare and HNELHD, comprising Westpac, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest, are responsible for maintaining the hospital.
Law firms XD Law and Bilbie Faraday Harrison are considering starting a new law firm. class action later Newcastle Herald He reported that Novacare was informed in October 2024 that the air conditioning ducts were full of germs. aspergillus molded and needed to be replaced.
When this information was leaked six months later, staff and patients were warned.
most strains aspergillus are harmless, but a few can cause serious illness when people inhale the spores. Those most at risk are people with weakened immune systems (for example, immunocompromised cancer patients), people with lung disease, or asthma.
The companies are appealing to the relatives of patients who died in the hospital’s cancer wards between January 2024 and April 2025.
On Tuesday, the hospital had to cancel all elective surgeries and transfer 15 general medicine patients to private hospitals to make room for hematology patients.
A Calvary spokesman said the organization was disappointed by ongoing maintenance issues overseen by NSW Health.
Health Minister Ryan Park apologized to patients and staff, saying private operators’ delay in resolving maintenance issues was unacceptable and HNELHD was preparing an action plan.
“I made it clear to all parties involved that I want this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Park said. “However, upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit were ongoing.”
A spokesperson for HNELHD said it was working with Novacare to implement the necessary controls to enable the hospital to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
“We want to reassure patients, families, carers, staff and the community.” [that] “We are taking all necessary steps to comprehensively resolve this issue,” the spokesman said.
Westpac and Honeywell have been contacted for comment.
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