Former staff have blown the whistle on “dire” conditions at a New South Wales hospital, including mouldy vents, lax controls separating sewage and drinking water, and the use of sanitary pads to soak up rainwater leaking into wards.
One whistleblower also claimed key documents were “shredded” to conceal evidence of maintenance issues at Newcastle’s Calvary Mater, something that the hospital denied at the first parliamentary inquiry hearing held on Friday.
A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry is investigating concerns about mould and pest infestations plaguing the hospital, including maggots found on the hospital floor.
The hospital runs under a public-private partnership, which staff have heavily criticised for failing to address the issues.Â
Luke Carroll was a former site manager at the Mater Hospital, working for private maintenance partner Honeywell. (Supplied: Parliament of New South Wales)
Luke Carroll, is a former site manager at the Calvary Mater hospital and was employed by Honeywell, the hospital’s private maintenance partner.Â
Fronting a hearing in Newcastle today, Mr Carroll said multiple maintenance issues amounted to “wilful neglect”.Â
“There was decaying and patched-over infrastructure, inadequate or non-existent maintenance practices, and quite apparent falsification of maintenance records,” he said.
“If what I saw was inside a pet food factory, it would be concerning,” he said.
“The fact that it was inside a hospital and being indulged by so many people was almost beyond comprehension.”
Mr Carroll said he had been involved “in the construction of four hospitals and the operations of a further 18.”
He said the situation at the Mater was “dire”.
Mr Carroll said he had to personally fix “deficient” fire systems at the hospital, and raised concerns that in the event of a fire “you wouldn’t get out.”
“Bandaids after bandaids applied to conceal risks,” he said.
Mr Carroll told the committee he was stood down after he authored a “brutally direct report” about mould in April 2025.
Claims disputed
Honeywell’s Facilities Director at the Calvary Mater, James O’Brien, declined to front the inquiry today.
The Australian head of Honeywell, Lisa Whitehead, did appear and told the committee that claims levelled at her company were proven to be unfounded.
Lisa Whitehead denied Mr Carroll’s allegations. (Supplied: Parliament of New South Wales)
“There were a series of allegations made by one of the earlier witnesses to Honeywell that were thoroughly investigated,” she said.
She rejected claims that documents had been falsified or shredded.
“There’s no substance to any of those allegations,” she said.
Maintenance issues widespread
Tim Paton, a licensed plumber, worked on-site at the hospital for 14 years.
At today’s hearing, Mr Paton alleged serious deficiencies and lax infrastructure separation controls put patients and staff at risk of drinking water contaminated by sewerage.
Mr Paton also alleged portable water storage tanks at the hospital had only been cleaned twice since installation in 2007.
Mould and pest problems have temporarily closed multiple wards over the past 12 months. (Supplied: Health Services Union)
He also said water coolers were laden with mould and “milky white” substances.
“These are not isolated maintenance issues. These are systemic failures,” he said.
Mr Paton said maintenance compliance at the hospital was outdated, with reporting often done by paper.
Camilla Smith from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association told the inquiry about staff stringing up plastic sheets and towels, and placing absorbent pads near windows in a bid to deter rainwater from entering multiple wards.
“If you go into a ward zipped up in plastic like Stranger Things you are not going to go, ‘Oh, I feel safe’,” she said.
She said to determine if rain was forecast, “My manager had to sit and have meetings with the [Bureau of Meteorology] to discuss which way the rain was going to come in.”
A nurse told the committee that temporary plastic sheeting made the ward feel like an episode of Stranger Things. (Supplied: Heath Services Union)
Anger at Dad’s death
Families who have lost loved ones at the Mater Hospital have said the evidence given today made them “angry”, but hoped it would encourage change.
Bradley North died from pneumonia at the Mater Hospital in May 2023 from high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
Bradley North was treated for cancer at the Mater Hospital in 2023. (Supplied: Taylor North)
His daughter, Taylor North, said the evidence given today strengthened her resolve to find out whether the hospital environment contributed to his death.Â
“There’s a lot of stuff coming out of the woodwork now that I didn’t know before, that I wish I did know,” she said.
“I’m thankful that those people have come forward and decided to tell their story.
“Hopefully they can fix the problem because it’s wrong.”
Hospital bosses respond
Calvary CEO Damien Bruce said Calvary Health Care did not oversee maintenance at the facility. Instead, it was the job of a consortium.
Mr Bruce told the inquiry he was disturbed by the state of the hospital.
“Calvary is committed to protecting patient and staff safety,” he said.Â
“This is non-negotiable for us, and the current environment poses an unacceptable risk.”
Approximately 100 families who have lost loved ones at the Calvary Mater have contacted a local law firm regarding a potential class action.