Hunter Hospitals Suffering From Bed Block

 BY JACK SEYMOUR

The Nurses and Midwives Union says John Hunter Hospital is suffering from bed block with people waiting for aged care or NDIS support unable to leave.

It's creating a back log of beds which would normally be saved for same day surgery or procedures.

John Hunter Hospital Branch Secretary Linda Mobbs believes it's creating pressure on Hunter hospitals and a new seven storey acute services building won't solve the problem

"A shiny new building isn't going to be fully utilised when it's opened," she said.

"Like with the big problem they had at Maitland, there are still areas there that aren't being funded and aren't being used.

"So what is the point of having a great big, new, shiny facility if we don't have enough staff and it's not fully utilised?"

Spike in whooping cough cases leaves many concerned

 BY OLIVIA GOELDNER

A total of 34 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the Hunter this year, the highest seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Data reveals case numbers in the last two months have surpassed those recorded across the entirety of 2023. 

The bacterial infection is highly contagious and has proven to be deadly in young children, with symptoms lasting up to three months. 

Officials from The John Hunter Hospital are urging anyone who is able to get a booster shot of the vaccine to do so. 

Arguing it can offer protection from the illness for three to four years. 

John Hunter Shuttle Bus Restored And ADHD Clinic Announced For Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The NSW Health Minister has confirmed the park-and-ride shuttle service will return to the John Hunter Hospital. 

The service was established in 2007 in a bid to alleviate car parking pressures at the hospital, but was scrapped in 2015 when more than 700 new parking spaces were added at the facility.

The first shuttle is expected to be up and running by mid next year. 

On a tour of the Hospital's new Health and Innovation Precinct, Ryan Park, said the Hunter New England Health District has started investigating a route for the service. 

"I've asked the planners, along with the Local Health District whether there needs to be any changes to the previous route," he said. 

"We'll make sure we get something that is fit for purpose, but that works in 2023/2024, not necessarily focused on what we did 8 years ago... but if that is the best and most useful route still, than that's what we'll work on." 

Mr. Park has also announced the establishment of a new ADHD clinic for young patients in the district. 

The Wallsend clinic will act as a trial program for the next two years, as the state government looks to enhance ADHD support in regional parts of NSW. 

Mr. Park says it means patients won't have to travel to hospital for diagnosis and treatment. 

"This is about making sure that we take pressure off paediatric waitlists. It's working in partnership with their GPs, but it's also about getting that early diagnosis, that early access to treatment, that early access to support, to make sure that we provide those wrap-around services and support that young people need."  

Pedestrian Hit By Motorcycle In Muswellbrook

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two people are recovering in hospital after a motorcycle struck a pedestrian in Muswellbrook. 

Emergency Services were called to Maitland Street at about 4:45pm yesterday (Monday the 23rd of October, 2023), following reports of a motorcycle incident. 

The 50-year-old female pedestrian was treated at the scene by NSW ambulance paramedics for head, abdomen, and hip injuries, before being airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. 

The motorcycle rider was also treated at the scene, before being taken to the John Hunter via ambulance.

 

Young Worker Tragically Killed On JHH Construction Site

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police and Safe Work NSW are investigating the circumstances surrounding a workplace accident on the John Hunter Hospital construction site which claimed the life of a 20-year old man.

Emergency services were called to the Health and Innovation Precinct work site at about 9.00am on Wednesday to reports the young man was struck by steel reinforcement which fell on him.

He was taken to the nearby hospital in a critical condition but died on Wednesday afternoon.

Health Minister Ryan Park has offered his condolences to the man's family, friends and colleagues, with support and counselling being provided to all concerned.

Police and Safe Work NSW are investigating the workplace accident at the John Hunter Hospital construction site Picture: SMH

Two Men in Hospital After Alleged Stabbing at Broadmeadow Station

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A man is in police custody after another man was allegedly stabbed at a train station in Newcastle this morning.

Emergency services were called to Broadmeadow Train Station about 10:15am, following reports a man had suffered a stab wound to his abdomen.

He's been taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition, after being treated at the scene by paramedics.

Police reportedly deployed capsicum spray in order to arrest the alleged offender outside the station.

He's been taken to the Calvary Mater Hospital where he remains under police guard.

Officers from the Newcastle City Police District have established a crime scene and an investigation is now underway into the circumstances surrounding the event. 

Labor Commits to Restore John Hunter Shuttle Bus Service

BY DANEIE GEDDES

The John Hunter Hospital shuttle bus service is set to be restored if Labor is elected on March 25, eight years after it was shut down by the Liberal government. 

The service will allow visitors to park at McDonald Jones Stadium and embark on the shuttle to the hospital's front door.  

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery, said the service will play a crucial role in addressing transport and parking concerns for both patients and healthcare workers. 

"Workers liked the shuttle from the stadium because they could park there for free and have the ease of just being able to park and hop on a bus," she said. 

"People with disabilities and the elderly liked it too, because not only could they park easily at the stadium, but they had a beautiful door to door service."

The service will also be crucial for managing transport and parking issues, given future expansion plans for the hospital. 

"There is a lot to do and that won't be accomplished overnight, but with real commitment we can start chipping away at some of our real major problems that have occurred in the hospital system in the last 12 years," Ms Hornery said. 

Labor has proposed the restoral of the service as a fresh start for rebuilding and repairing the NSW healthcare system and says it's the first step in a long-term plan to address ongoing concerns from Hunter residents and healthcare workers.

Edgeworth to Receive New Ambulance Station

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A new ambulance station in Edgeworth is on the way, thanks to the state government's record investment into health.

The new station will feature internal parking for emergency ambulance vehicles, vehicle wash facilities, logistics and storage spaces, an administration office, staff amenities, and multipurpose spaces to support staff education. 

It comes as part of the government's total 1.76 billion dollar investment, which is set to transform NSW ambulance services over the next 4 years. 

As part of the program, the government has also announced $835 million will be allocated to the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, $111.48 million will be handed-down to redevelop Cessnock Hospital, and 45 million will go towards Muswellbrook Hospital. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin, said the site for the Edgeworth station will be determined once further planning is completed with key stakeholders. 

Essential Hunter Workers Call to Scrap the Public Sector Wage Cap

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Essential workers from the Hunter gathered at the John Hunter Hospital this morning, in a bid to address issues surrounding wages and staff shortages. 

Ahead of the event, Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey, launched a new report, detailing how much health and education workers will be out-of-pocket if the wage cap for public sector workers isn't scrapped. 

The research into the impact of the wage cap on the pay packets of essential workers shows it will leave nurses, paramedics and teachers worse-off by between $10,000 and $12,000 dollars when adjusted for inflation over 3 years.

It also details how the 3% wage cap is adding to critical staff shortages, noting vacancies for education professionals in the region have tripled. 

Mark Morey said something needs to be done. 

"We're calling on the NSW Government to get rid of the cap, and to negotiate wage increases for its essential workers," he said. 

He said scrapping the cap is the only way to address mass vacancies across the Hunter. 

Image: Newcastle Herald

Hunter hospitals hoping to bounce back after busy winter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District is hoping for a quieter summer, after another busy winter at the region's hospitals.

According to the latest Bureau of Health Information data, more than 109,000 people visited the Hunter's emergency departments in the three months to September, though more than half were not in need of life-threatening or critical care.

It's understood, COVID-19 and other winter illnesses are continuing to put pressure on health staff.

65.5 percent of patients started their treatments on time, while 78.3 percent were transferred out of ambulances within the half-an-hour benchmark, compared to a state average of 74.8 percent.

6,497 elective surgeries were performed across the region, with 99.6 completed on time.

Calls to Use Wallsend Aged Care Facility to Ease Hunter Bed Block

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

Residents and MPs are calling on Hunter New England Health to explain the low occupancy rate at the Wallsend Aged Care Facility. 

It was recently revealed the facility has more than 60 per cent of its beds available, and has not taken a new resident for more than two years. 

It's estimated this means there are approximately 40 beds free. 

Wallsend state MP Sonia Hornery has expressed concern, the government plans to privatise or close the facility altogether. 

Ms Hornery said this doesn't make sense, considering the it has higher staffing ratios and better qualified staff than most federal facilities. 

"It's so important to keep the Wallsend Aged Care Facility in public hands and available for the community because the quality of care there is the best," she said. 

Hunter Health's Executive Director of Greater Metropolitan Health Services, Karen Kelly, told Newcastle Herald, the COVID-19 pandemic had led to the decrease in residents, with families hesitant to admit their loved ones following a string of outbreaks. 

However, Ms Hornery said two years on, Hunter Health could lift the occupancy rate if it wanted to. 

"My question to the government and to the Health Minister is, are people being discouraged from going to the aged care facility?"

Ms Hornery noted the bed block in Hunter hospitals, and said something needs to be done to ease the pressure on the health system. 

She suggested the Wallsend site be used as temporary accommodation for patients filling up hospitals in the region. 

"I'm calling on the government to ensure not only that the Wallsend Aged Care Facility remains open, but that the community is encouraged to use the facility for their family when it's needed," Ms Hornery said. 

"I'm calling on the government to consider using consider using this facility as respite, to free up some of the beds at the John Hunter and the Calvary Mater." 

"And I'm calling on the government to be open an transparent with the community about what's really happening at the Wallsend Aged Care Facility because there is some reason why we have so many beds vacant at this wonderful facility." 

The Wallsend Aged Care Facility has more than 60 per cent of its beds available, Hunter Health has confirmed. 

Young doctors feeling fatigue at the John Hunter

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A new survey has revealed high levels of fatigue in young Hunter doctors.

Data from the 2022 Australian Medical Association NSW Survey indicates 54% of doctors-in-training at John Hunter Hospital felt they had made a fatigue-induced error while working. 

This was higher than the state average of 46%. 

52% also reported experiencing a heavy or very heavy inpatient workload.

In comparison, 32% of Maitland Hospital workers, and 45% at the Calvary Mater, felt they had made a mistake due to tiredness. 

Figures out of the Mater also indicate 73% of staff members were concerned about their health and safety in regards to their roster. 

The results come after the COVID-19 pandemic shook the region, with staff furloughs meaning doctors were forced to cover shifts for sick staff members. 

AMA NSW Doctors-in-Training Committee co-chair Dr Sanjay Hettige, told Newcastle Herald the pandemic had both increased and highlighted the pressure felt by young doctors. 

And, Executive Director of Medical Services at Hunter New England Health, Professor Trish Davidson said improving these statistics is a significant focus moving forward. 

Pair suffer serious injuries after being swept from Nobbys breakwall

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Two people are in hospital after they were thrown from the Nobbys breakwall in Monday morning's heavy surf.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene around 8:45am, where they treated a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s for serious injuries, including fractures.

They've been taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

Image credit: Visit Newcastle.

Works underway on new John Hunter Hospital facility

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Works are set to soon begin on the new Health and Innovation Precinct at the John Hunter Hospital.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard visited the site on Tuesday morning, picking up a shovel to turn the first sod at the site.

The $835 million project includes a seven-storey, state-of-the-art acute services building.

Mr Hazzard says it's important the Hunter has the healthcare services to keep up with the population.

"I know from my local family members that the growth in the Hunter particularly is quite incredible," he said. "We're probably expecting, I think, about 22 percent growth just in the next 15 years."

"Increasing the emergency department by about 40 percent, the theatres by about 50 percent, the ICU by about 60 percent, and of course all of the other services, including the paediatric services and so on, is just going to make a huge difference."

The facility will also include more adult and paediatric critical care services, a birthing suite and inpatient maternity unit, a neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery, a new rooftop helipad, and more than 900 car spaces for staff and visitors.

The project is expected to be complete in 2026.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard visited the site on Tuesday morning.

An artist's impression of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct.

Paramedics to Escalate Industrial Action

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Paramedics will escalate their industrial action from Monday, in response to state-wide ambulance shortages. 

The action comes after the Australian Paramedics Association NSW announced there were zero transport ambulances available for patients in Newcastle yesterday. 

Illawarra and the Central Coast have also been stung by the shortages and had no vehicles available. Meanwhile there were only 8 cars available in the Sydney LGA. 

An overflowing ambulance bay outside the John Hunter Hospital on Thursday also offered insight into the severity of the region's healthcare crisis. 

Secretary of the Hospital's branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, Rachel Hughes, told the Newcastle Herald this was a regular occurrence, with vehicles often forced to park on the road and in no stopping zones while they waited to offload patients. 

As part of the proposed action, participating paramedics not be putting patient billing information on their electronic medical records, making it much harder for NSW Health to send patients an ambulance bill.

They will also be refusing staff movements, which would see them relocated to another station once on shift, and are calling for an additional 1500 staff. 

State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said the sector's lack of support is bearing fatal consequences. 

"People are waiting enormous times to actually get an ambulance. We had the terrible situation of a death of a Lake Macquarie woman who waited 7 hours for an ambulance back on the 29th of April, and she passed away only ten minutes after being admitted; that's a catastrophe," Mr Crakanthorp said. 

A 31-year-old Maryland mother also passed away last year after suffering from anaphylactic shock and waiting an hour for an ambulance to arrive. 

In response, NSW Ambulance is currently reviewing a pilot plan to use taxis to transport non-emergency patients to general practitioners and pharmacies.  

However, there are concerns this would just transfer the workload onto already under-pressure GP's. 

Mr Crakanthorp wants all avenues to be considered, and said it's fair enough paramedics are fed up. 

"They're tired of apologizing for attending to patients hours late and they're passionate about their job, they're passionate about healthcare, and when they can't get to patients quickly enough, they're devastated and so am I," he said. 

"On behalf of the community and myself, I'm calling on the government to increase resourcing and wages." 

NSW Paramedics will escalate industrial action starting Monday.  

Design Unveiled For New $780 Million John Hunter Hospital Building

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Health Minister was at John Hunter Hospital on Tuesday to unveil the designs of the new Acute Service Building.

The $780 million, seven storey facility will have the capacity to increase intensive care services by 60 per cent and almost 50 percent more for theatres.

The Government says the patient has been put front and centre, with large windows for more natural light and plenty of green spaces and quiet zones to make the hospital stay as comfortable as possible.

The redevelopment will also include upgrades to the internal road network to compliment the future connection to the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and a link bridge to connect the new building.

The new facility will also include:

• A new Emergency Department
• Critical Care Services (adult and paediatric)
• Operating theatres and interventional suites
• Imaging services
• Birthing suite and inpatient maternity unit
• Neonatal intensive care and special care nursery
• Retail, new hospital entrance canopy and improved drop off zone
• Rooftop helipad and increased car parking

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazard says it is set to become a world class health precinct.

"This will no only significantly enhance capacity for clinical care and collaboration between the health, research and education sectors but be a key driver of economic growth in the region.

"The cleverly designed building will house cutting edge technology, enabling John Hunter's incredible staff to continue to deliver exemplary health care to the greater Newcastle, hunter and New England and northern NSW," Mr Hazzard said.

Artist impression of the new building.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard making the 
announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At John Hunter Hospital

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a suspicious car fire at the John Hunter Hospital this morning (Wednesday 12 May, 2021).

A departing Ambulance crew noticed the car ablaze in the Upper Level Car Park opposite the Emergency Department at 3.45am.

Two fire trucks from Lambton attended, taking about half an hour to put out the flames, with crews wearing breathing apparatus smothering the fire with foam.

They managed to contain the fire to the car and no other vehicles or the car park were damaged.  

It's believed the vehicle belongs to a member of staff at the hospital.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The burnt-out vehicle at John Hunter Hospital Picture: Facebook

 

59 Year Old Man Airlifted to John Hunter Hospital After Roof Fall

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man's been flown to hospital after falling of a roof in the Upper Hunter.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Scone around 7:10pm on Thursday night, to reports a 59-year-old man had fallen from a roof and sustained a serious leg fracture. 

The he was treated by paramedics before being transported to Scott Memorial Hospital at Scone and airlifted to John Hunter Hospital. 

He was in a stable condition.

47-year-old Man Found With Multiple Stab Wounds in Muswellbrook

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

A 47-year-old man has been transported to John Hunter Hospital after being stabbed multiple times in Muswellbrook. 

Just after 1am on Friday morning, emergency services arrived at the scene to find the man had received multiple stab wounds. 

The man was transported to John Hunter by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a serious but stable condition. 

More to come. 

BREAKING! Rescue Helicopter Transporting Premature Twins To John Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been called to Stockton to rendezvous with two ambulances transporting a set of twins born prematurely on Monday morning at Tanilba Bay

The chopper's Critical Care Medical Team have been flown in to Stockton to meet the two ambulances. The team has split up to travel with each of the twins to the John Hunter Hospital who are reported to be in a critical condition.

The Rescue Helicopter was also called to two remote walking trails over the weekend to rescue injured walkers .

They were sent to the Yaccaba Trail near Hawks Nest on Saturday afternoon, where a 62-year-old man had seriously injured his legs in a fall.

He was winched to safety before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

A 63-year-old woman had to be winched from a track near Martindale on Sunday after suffering a knee injury.

And, a 13-year-old boy has been flown to the John Hunter for specialist treatment after coming off his bike on a property at Carrol near Gunnedah and hitting a barbed wire fence at 80 kilometres per hour.

He suffered multiple injuries and lacerations in the crash.