Political Pressure Mounts Over Hospital Mould Crisis
Upper Hunter MP David Layzell has issued a powerful demand for NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to launch an independent investigation into the dangerous mould contamination at Calvary Mater Hospital. The politician, who brings two decades of hospital construction experience to the table, described the situation as potentially "a matter of life and death" for vulnerable patients.
Deadly Mould in Cancer Wards
The hospital's air-conditioning system, including ducts serving cancer treatment areas, has been contaminated with Aspergillus mould for over twelve months. This specific type of mould poses life-threatening risks to immunocompromised patients, particularly those undergoing cancer treatment who have weakened immune systems.
A recent Bureau of Health Information study revealed alarming findings, showing the Mater hospital had "higher than expected mortality" for pneumonia patients despite statewide improvements. This concerning data has raised serious questions about the impact of the mould contamination on patient outcomes.
The situation has escalated to the point where two law firms have initiated a class action, seeking individuals who lost family members in the hospital's oncology wards between January 2024 and April 2025 to come forward.
Minister's Response Under Scrutiny
Mr Layzell expressed frustration that Health Minister Ryan Park has ignored repeated calls from the community for intervention. "This is a very serious situation - he is the Health Minister whether he likes it or not, he needs to get involved," Layzell stated emphatically.
The MP stressed that any investigation must be conducted externally to ensure impartiality. "It's better to be investigated by people who aren't compromised," he argued, suggesting that Hunter New England Health district officials might face operational pressures that could influence their findings.
Minister Park defended his position, stating that his current priority is implementing "an urgent resolution" and establishing an ongoing management plan. He expressed concern that an independent inquiry wouldn't accelerate the resolution process at this critical juncture.
Systemic Failures Revealed
The Newcastle Herald's investigation uncovered that Honeywell, the private company responsible for the hospital's maintenance, knew about the mould contamination as early as October 2024. However, the company allegedly sat on the report for six months until the information was leaked to hospital staff.
Honeywell has disputed this timeline, claiming they "are not aware of any October 2024 report" and only learned of increased mould levels through routine testing in April 2025.
The maintenance issues extend beyond the mould problem. In June, SafeWork NSW issued the hospital with an improvement notice addressing risks of "slips, electric shock and inhalation of mould spores". Additional concerns emerged in August when leaked photos revealed severely corroded portable water tanks that were two years overdue for replacement, filled with mould and lacking proper vermin control.
The hospital operates under a public-private partnership managed by NovaCare consortium, which includes Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Medirest and Honeywell. The arrangement has eight years remaining and is expected to cost NSW taxpayers approximately $60 million during that period.
Mr Layzell's professional background gives weight to his concerns. Before entering politics, he spent more than twenty years as a service manager in construction, overseeing subcontractors for hospital projects including the $211-million Tamworth Hospital redevelopment. "In many ways, this is my bread and butter," he noted, emphasizing his understanding of hospital air-conditioning systems and maintenance requirements.
