'Not acceptable': Health Minister to meet hospital management over mould and leaks
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable.
The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment".
The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks.
"No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National.
"I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda."
Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community.
"It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said.
"We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible."
Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins.
The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further.
Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks.
The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny.
The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest.
Novacare has not responded to requests for comment.
Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose.
Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning.
In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services.
"We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable.
The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment".
The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks.
"No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National.
"I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda."
Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community.
"It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said.
"We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible."
Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins.
The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further.
Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks.
The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny.
The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest.
Novacare has not responded to requests for comment.
Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose.
Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning.
In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services.
"We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable.
The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment".
The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks.
"No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National.
"I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda."
Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community.
"It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said.
"We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible."
Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins.
The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further.
Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks.
The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny.
The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest.
Novacare has not responded to requests for comment.
Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose.
Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning.
In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services.
"We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable.
The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment".
The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks.
"No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National.
"I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda."
Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community.
"It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said.
"We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible."
Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins.
The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further.
Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks.
The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny.
The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest.
Novacare has not responded to requests for comment.
Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose.
Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning.
In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services.
"We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Electric shocks, slips and mould: SafeWork serves notice to hospital
SafeWork has cracked down on the dangerous work environment at the Calvary Mater Hospital, ordering several issues to be fixed. Hunter New England Health has been issued with an improvement notice, which found it had failed to ensure reasonable health and safety due to risks of "slips, electric shock and inhalation of mould spores from rain water ingress and humidity". The notice, which also found the contractual building management system was inadequate, was served to HNEH as the owners of the building. The SafeWork order comes after NSW Health Minister Ryan Park met with the hospital's administrators to discuss a mould outbreak in the building's airconditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients. The Newcastle Herald recently revealed SafeWork inspected the hospital in April, but missed the issues, including leaks that caused internal flooding and forced chemotherapy treatments to be cancelled. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Calvary Mater branch secretary Camilla Smith said despite the improvement notice, the hospital's work environment remained dangerous to staff and patients. "We're glad to to see progress, but we'll be feeling a lot better when the problems are actually fixed," Ms Smith said. "We shouldn't have got here in the first place. We've been let down by the lack of transparency and staff don't trust the management of the building." The lack of action to fix the Mater's ongoing issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare director James Ward said the company couldn't comment as it was "bound by confidentiality requirements", and any response would need approval from the state government. HNEH and the NSW Health Minister have repeatedly stated Novacare was responsible for the hospital's infrastructure and maintenance. "Minister Park and [Calvary Health Care CEO] Martin Bowles both agreed that it needs to be resolved as a matter of priority and urgency," a spokesperson for the Health Minister said. "Work is being undertaken to address the situation as quickly as possible." In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Ms Smith said Mater's maintenance mess was more evidence PPPs were no longer fit for purpose. "You've got a private company trying to make a profit of managing an acute care hospital, so when problems arise and money needs to be spent, no one wants to foot the bill," she said. HNEH confirmed it had received the SafeWork notice and was working with its partners and contractors, including NovaCare, to determine appropriate remediations. SafeWork has cracked down on the dangerous work environment at the Calvary Mater Hospital, ordering several issues to be fixed. Hunter New England Health has been issued with an improvement notice, which found it had failed to ensure reasonable health and safety due to risks of "slips, electric shock and inhalation of mould spores from rain water ingress and humidity". The notice, which also found the contractual building management system was inadequate, was served to HNEH as the owners of the building. The SafeWork order comes after NSW Health Minister Ryan Park met with the hospital's administrators to discuss a mould outbreak in the building's airconditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients. The Newcastle Herald recently revealed SafeWork inspected the hospital in April, but missed the issues, including leaks that caused internal flooding and forced chemotherapy treatments to be cancelled. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Calvary Mater branch secretary Camilla Smith said despite the improvement notice, the hospital's work environment remained dangerous to staff and patients. "We're glad to to see progress, but we'll be feeling a lot better when the problems are actually fixed," Ms Smith said. "We shouldn't have got here in the first place. We've been let down by the lack of transparency and staff don't trust the management of the building." The lack of action to fix the Mater's ongoing issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare director James Ward said the company couldn't comment as it was "bound by confidentiality requirements", and any response would need approval from the state government. HNEH and the NSW Health Minister have repeatedly stated Novacare was responsible for the hospital's infrastructure and maintenance. "Minister Park and [Calvary Health Care CEO] Martin Bowles both agreed that it needs to be resolved as a matter of priority and urgency," a spokesperson for the Health Minister said. "Work is being undertaken to address the situation as quickly as possible." In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Ms Smith said Mater's maintenance mess was more evidence PPPs were no longer fit for purpose. "You've got a private company trying to make a profit of managing an acute care hospital, so when problems arise and money needs to be spent, no one wants to foot the bill," she said. HNEH confirmed it had received the SafeWork notice and was working with its partners and contractors, including NovaCare, to determine appropriate remediations. SafeWork has cracked down on the dangerous work environment at the Calvary Mater Hospital, ordering several issues to be fixed. Hunter New England Health has been issued with an improvement notice, which found it had failed to ensure reasonable health and safety due to risks of "slips, electric shock and inhalation of mould spores from rain water ingress and humidity". The notice, which also found the contractual building management system was inadequate, was served to HNEH as the owners of the building. The SafeWork order comes after NSW Health Minister Ryan Park met with the hospital's administrators to discuss a mould outbreak in the building's airconditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients. The Newcastle Herald recently revealed SafeWork inspected the hospital in April, but missed the issues, including leaks that caused internal flooding and forced chemotherapy treatments to be cancelled. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Calvary Mater branch secretary Camilla Smith said despite the improvement notice, the hospital's work environment remained dangerous to staff and patients. "We're glad to to see progress, but we'll be feeling a lot better when the problems are actually fixed," Ms Smith said. "We shouldn't have got here in the first place. We've been let down by the lack of transparency and staff don't trust the management of the building." The lack of action to fix the Mater's ongoing issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare director James Ward said the company couldn't comment as it was "bound by confidentiality requirements", and any response would need approval from the state government. HNEH and the NSW Health Minister have repeatedly stated Novacare was responsible for the hospital's infrastructure and maintenance. "Minister Park and [Calvary Health Care CEO] Martin Bowles both agreed that it needs to be resolved as a matter of priority and urgency," a spokesperson for the Health Minister said. "Work is being undertaken to address the situation as quickly as possible." In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Ms Smith said Mater's maintenance mess was more evidence PPPs were no longer fit for purpose. "You've got a private company trying to make a profit of managing an acute care hospital, so when problems arise and money needs to be spent, no one wants to foot the bill," she said. HNEH confirmed it had received the SafeWork notice and was working with its partners and contractors, including NovaCare, to determine appropriate remediations. SafeWork has cracked down on the dangerous work environment at the Calvary Mater Hospital, ordering several issues to be fixed. Hunter New England Health has been issued with an improvement notice, which found it had failed to ensure reasonable health and safety due to risks of "slips, electric shock and inhalation of mould spores from rain water ingress and humidity". The notice, which also found the contractual building management system was inadequate, was served to HNEH as the owners of the building. The SafeWork order comes after NSW Health Minister Ryan Park met with the hospital's administrators to discuss a mould outbreak in the building's airconditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients. The Newcastle Herald recently revealed SafeWork inspected the hospital in April, but missed the issues, including leaks that caused internal flooding and forced chemotherapy treatments to be cancelled. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Calvary Mater branch secretary Camilla Smith said despite the improvement notice, the hospital's work environment remained dangerous to staff and patients. "We're glad to to see progress, but we'll be feeling a lot better when the problems are actually fixed," Ms Smith said. "We shouldn't have got here in the first place. We've been let down by the lack of transparency and staff don't trust the management of the building." The lack of action to fix the Mater's ongoing issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare director James Ward said the company couldn't comment as it was "bound by confidentiality requirements", and any response would need approval from the state government. HNEH and the NSW Health Minister have repeatedly stated Novacare was responsible for the hospital's infrastructure and maintenance. "Minister Park and [Calvary Health Care CEO] Martin Bowles both agreed that it needs to be resolved as a matter of priority and urgency," a spokesperson for the Health Minister said. "Work is being undertaken to address the situation as quickly as possible." In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Ms Smith said Mater's maintenance mess was more evidence PPPs were no longer fit for purpose. "You've got a private company trying to make a profit of managing an acute care hospital, so when problems arise and money needs to be spent, no one wants to foot the bill," she said. HNEH confirmed it had received the SafeWork notice and was working with its partners and contractors, including NovaCare, to determine appropriate remediations.
West Australian
5 days ago
- West Australian
‘Serious threat': Fresh Covid warnings as jab rates decline
Covid vaccination rates in Queensland are at their lowest since the jabs were introduced five years ago, with health professionals warning that the virus still poses a 'serious threat' to the community. Fewer than 250,000 Queenslanders have received their free Covid booster this year, prompting urgent calls from doctors to people who have not yet been vaccinated to get the jab. The calls come as new data from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing revealed that more than 15,000 Covid cases had been reported in Queensland since January, with almost 3000 people hospitalised with the virus. 'We have dropped the ball with Covid-19 vaccinations, but this disease is still very prevalent in the community and poses a serious threat to high-risk patients,' Mater director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin said. 'Particularly for high-risk people, it should now be a once-a-year booster, just like the flu vaccine is, and with winter here next week, now is the time to get vaccinated and it's safe to get them both together. 'There are hundreds of different strains of Omicron, and the new subvariant NB. 1.8.1 is driving up infections and hospitalisations, particularly in Asia and Western Australia. 'The best way to protect yourself and your family is to get the newest booster which provides very good coverage, is safe, and will reduce the severity of your symptoms if you contract Covid-19.' Queensland health providers are dealing with high cases of both flu and RSV, in addition to Covid. More than 2000 Queenslanders have been hospitalised with the flu this year. Cases are up more than 30 per cent from the same time last year, but only a quarter of Queenslanders have been vaccinated. 'We are at our lowest levels of vaccination and protection in five years and with early rises in cases with winter approaching, the impact on our healthcare system could be significant, particularly with high levels of flu and RSV,' Professor Griffin said. The Covid and flu vaccines are free in Queensland and available at most pharmacies and GP clinics, and they are safe to receive at the same time In addition to Covid and the flu, about 12,000 cases of RSV have been reported in Queensland this year, with more than 1500 people hospitalised. 'More than half of these hospitalisations have been for the most vulnerable in our community, babies less than six months and people over 65,' Professor Griffin said. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for babies in Australia, and Queensland recorded the highest number of deaths due to RSV last year. RSV vaccinations are free for pregnant women, with immunity then passed onto babies up until they are six months old.
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- The Advertiser
'Not acceptable': Health Minister to meet hospital management over mould and leaks
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
