Calvary Mater Hospital to Undergo Parliamentary Inquiry Following String of Scandals
The Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle is set to become the focus of a significant parliamentary inquiry after a series of alarming incidents that have shaken public confidence in the facility. The inquiry, which was successfully moved by the Coalition with Greens support in the NSW parliament, will thoroughly examine management, maintenance, and operational issues at the hospital.
Scope of the Investigation
This wide-ranging investigation will specifically target the causes and management of incidents involving mould, water damage, and pest infestations. The hospital has faced multiple ward closures in 2026, including the temporary shutdown of its intensive care unit, due to dangerous mould discovered in air-conditioning vents and maggots falling from ceilings onto patients.
The NSW Legislative Council Health Committee will conduct the inquiry, with hearings expected to take place in Newcastle. Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell, who introduced the inquiry as a private member's bill, emphasised the importance of this investigation for restoring community trust.
"This is a win for patients, staff and the wider community," Ms Mitchell stated. "The establishment of a parliamentary inquiry means the serious issues at the Mater will finally be properly investigated, transparently and without spin."
Examining the Public-Private Partnership Model
The inquiry will also scrutinise the effectiveness of the public-private partnership model operating at Calvary Mater Hospital. Greens health spokeswoman and committee chair Amanda Cohn pointed directly to this arrangement as a fundamental problem.
"It's the PPP," Dr Cohn explained. "The Minns government has a strong stance on PPPs in healthcare. Unfortunately they are not walking the talk on this hospital. I hope they walk the talk and end this PPP, but in the meantime this inquiry is a really important piece of work that can help unpick this mess in terms of what went wrong."
Government Response and Ongoing Concerns
Despite Labor voting against the inquiry, Finance Minister Courtney Houssos clarified that the government takes the situation seriously but prioritises fixing problems before investigating their causes.
"It's really important that we fix the problems first, then we get to the bottom of what happened," Ms Houssos said, suggesting that questions about the Mater's issues could be addressed during budget estimates.
However, Ms Mitchell and Dr Cohn have raised serious concerns about previous assurances from NSW Health Infrastructure staff, who reportedly told politicians that mould risk was "minimal" just weeks before the hospital closed a ward due to dangerous mould levels.
Current Remediation Efforts and Legal Action
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has met with Calvary Mater staff and announced government intervention to address the building's cladding issues, which have been leaking so severely that chemotherapy treatments were cancelled. Remediation work to remove mould is reportedly underway but may take several months to complete.
Simultaneously, the hospital faces a potential class action being prepared by two law firms, seeking individuals who lost loved ones in the cancer wards between January 2024 and April 2025. This legal action follows revelations that the private maintenance operator, Honeywell, was informed in October 2024 about dangerous Aspergillus mould in air-conditioning ducts that required replacement, yet staff and patients remained unaware for six months.
Health Implications and Statistical Evidence
The mould problems have significant health implications, with Aspergillus species known to cause mould pneumonia. A recently released Bureau of Health Information study found that Calvary Mater Hospital had "higher than expected mortality" for pneumonia cases, despite a statewide decrease in such outcomes.
This parliamentary inquiry represents a crucial step toward addressing systemic failures at the hospital and ensuring accountability for the serious health and safety issues that have affected patients, staff, and the broader Newcastle community.
