A red-bellied black snake discovered in a wall cavity near an operating theatre at John Hunter Hospital may have been preparing for winter hibernation, according to a snake expert.
The snake was found in a store room where surgical supplies, such as sutures, were kept. A Hunter New England Health spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred earlier this month at the Royal Newcastle Centre.
"The area was immediately isolated to ensure the safety of staff and patients," the spokesperson said. "As a precaution, a nearby operating theatre was temporarily paused for a short time while a licensed snake handler safely removed the animal."
Access to theatre supplies was unaffected, and clinical staff continued to manage and retrieve items as usual. HNEH said it was investigating how the snake accessed the area.
One hospital staffer reported the snake had been sighted for three days before capture. Another staffer noted that "the snake catcher had several attempts and eventually had to cut out part of a wall in a storage area." The staffer added, "No one knew how it got in, but maybe it came up through a drain."
To lighten the mood, a staff member hung a snake bite kit on a noticeboard.
Lockie King, of Lake Mac Snake Men, said he is frequently called to remove snakes from hospitals. Although he did not handle this specific job, he noted that red-bellied black snakes are the most common venomous species in Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, and the Central Coast.
"They're starting to slow down now, have their last few feeds and look for somewhere to hunker down for winter," Mr King said. "They sleep for most of winter when they brumate. They'll still bask in the sun and drink. They'll have a feed if they want to, but they are a lot less active."
Mr King suggested the snake may have been "trying to find somewhere warm to hide and seek shelter from predators, or possibly going in there to find food." He added that rodents or lizards in wall cavities attract snakes.
The incident follows concerns about building conditions and maintenance at hospitals. A John Hunter staffer expressed hope that sections of the hospital could be closed for a thorough clean once a new $835 million, seven-storey acute services building opens later this year.
"The John Hunter is a bit dusty in the vents, with a few cockroaches here and there," the staffer said. "It's never able to have a proper clean because it's always filled with patients."
Pest issues have also been exposed at the Calvary Mater during a recent parliamentary inquiry into a mould and maintenance scandal. This included a maggot infestation after "an open skip bin was inappropriately used to dispose of clinical waste," according to an internal health document. The document noted that bags tore open, leading to a fly infestation that spread into the roof cavity of the ward. The Mater also reported rats in its ceiling and an absence of adequate vermin proofing in water storage tanks.
