State Government Set to Tackle Calvary Mater Mould

 BY MAXWELL HARVEY

Critical infrastructure failures at Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital are set to be addressed under a new State Government plan.

NSW Health has announced a taskforce to manage critical asset remediation at the hospital, addressing building condition, maintenance, and critical safety failures.

The Mater has faced constant controversy after accusations of mould in the cancer ward surfaced, alleging fungal infections had caused several fatalities over a 20-year period.

A lengthy parliamentary inquest uncovered evidence of corruption and cover-ups, recommending an immediate termination of the hospital's public-private partnership (PPP).

NSW Health announced $12.5 million for emergency remediation work earlier this year, replacing external cladding to prevent water leaks into the hospital.

Current works are expected to be complete by mid-2027.

Health Minister Ryan Park claims the inaction of NovaCare, the hospital's parent company, forced the state government to intervene.

"Earlier this year, we formed the view that we could no longer wait for NovaCare to act, and we stepped in to rectify the cladding and undertake cleaning -- some of which has already been completed," he said.

"We also undertook a building condition report to help identify more long-term structural issues which will help guide further rectification moving forward."

The report examined 1172 assets throughout the facility, finding 305 had defects and required intervention.

Included was an audit into the Mater's dysfunctional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, which is believed to be a key cause of continuous mould and maggot infestations.

The health taskforce is set to conduct additional remediation work based on the report's findings, with a major focus on mitigating mould and moisture risks.

Discussions regarding future of Calvary Mater and the PPP are still ongoing.

Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah. Picture: University of Newcastle. 

Construction Complete On $890M John Hunter Acute Services Building

 BY RUBY VAN DE WIJGAART

The construction of the $890 Million John Hunter Health, and Innovation Precinct has been completed.

With staff orientation, system testing and equipment instalment underway, the final stage has begun with the acute services building expected to be open to patients later this year.  

The new seven-storey building includes a new emergency department, projected to accommodate up to 95,000 patients each year. 

It also features 22 new operating theatres and nine interventional suites to accommodate increased demand for procedural services, with the services expected to increase the units capacity by 60 per cent. 

Moreover new birthing suites, inpatient maternity, special care units and a neonatal intensive care unit have also been added. 

The recent state budget delivered a $55 million boost to the development, which increased the total investment to $890 Million -- making it the largest hospital redevelopment outside of Sydney.

The new expansion is connected via four bridges to the existing Hunter Medical Research Institute, maintaining a connection between the two buildings and specialties. 

The new infrastructure introduces more opportunities for education, training and further employment to aid the current availability. 

John Hunter Hospital executive general manager Julie Tait said the next step will be finding staff. 

"I think staffing numbers in NSW are challenging"  Julie Tait admitted. 

"We are constantly trying to recruit and fill.

"Certainly we do carry vacancies on occasion but we have many plans to trying to increase that [staffing numbers]."

Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley said it's a massive milestone for the Hunter.

"The Hunter is growing, and our health services need to grow with it," she said.

"For too long, people outside of Sydney have had to travel further than they should for specialist care and our investment means more people across the Hunter can get world-class treatment closer to home."

John Hunter Hospital Executive General Manager Julie Tait, Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp. Picture: Ian Crouch

State Government Steps In On Calvary Mater Repairs

BY EVIE JONES 

Cladding remediation works will soon begin at Waratah's Calvary Mater hospital, with a state government intervention. 

The hospital's private manager NovaCare has been issued multiple notices of breach, after it was found cladding on the facility's facade was not up to code. 

It's believed the unsatisfactory exterior has caused water to leak into the hospital and create significant mould infestations, which have led to several wards closing in the past month. 

Progress for the works has been repeatedly delayed due to ongoing commercial discussions between NovaCare and NSW Health, leading the state government to step in. 

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said they had no other choice. 

"We had to intervene to make sure that work was done on time," she said. 

"Unfortunately, the private provider hasn't stepped in as quickly as they should have, and that's why the state government has stepped in."

A contractor has been employed by the state government to begin the works in March, which are set to be completed by mid next year. 

The intervention comes as staff and concerned civilians rallied outside the facility last month protesting unsanitary and unsafe conditions. 

Sonia Hornery said she agrees with staff, labelling the mold as an unacceptable safety concern. 

"It's important for us to expedite this work because it's a continuing safety problem, particularly for people who are very ill," she said.

"We know that the Mater is a leader in treating cancer patients.

"We can't afford to have very ill people getting sick because the building isn't clean and safe and sanitary.

"It also provides problems for people with pneumonia and other chest and lung infections. "We really do need to urgently get rid of it."

NSW Health indicated it will work closely with the Calvary Mater team to coordinate remediation works while minimizing disruption to patients, staff and visitors. 

The state government also showed its support for the Calvary Mater, claiming it will take all necessary steps to support remediation and ensure the continued safety, functionality and reliability of the hospital. 

Hunter residents urged to stay up to date on COVID shot ahead of latest wave

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Residents across the Hunter and New South Wales are being urged to make sure they're up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, as a new wave of infections continues to grow.

NSW Health is calling on the community to practise COVID-safe behaviours like social distancing and mask wearing.

There's concern the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants could cause the number of serious cases and deaths to skyrocket.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says 56 percent of COVID-related deaths this year were people with two or fewer doses.

"We are at the beginning of the third wave of Omicron which is likely to peak in late July or early August. This increase in community transmission brings with it greatly increased risks for those not up to date with their vaccines," he said.  

"The best way you can protect yourself from serious illness or worse is to get every vaccination that is available to you."

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.

Health data proves Maitland Hospital under the pump, nurses say

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Nurses at Maitland Hospital say new health data has "vindicated" their concerns around conditions at the new site, revealing it's facing the busiest period in the hospital's history.

According to the latest Bureau of Health Information data, presentations at Maitland Hospital increased by 7.1 percent between January and March, compared to the same quarter last year.

Presentations fell by the same amount at the John Hunter, and 8.1 percent at the Mater.

The Nurses and Midwives Association has raised the alarm, the Maitland Hospital's move to Metford has meant the catchment has expanded to encompass patients from Raymond Terrace and Port Stephens.

Maitland Branch Acting Secretary Kathy Chapman says the numbers are "not surprising at all".

"We've been feeling this ever since we got there at Maitland," she said. "The patients have been feeling this."

"Now that [the data's] come out, we do feel vindicated in saying, you know, this has been happening, it's wrong, let's get the Ministry of Health to do something about it."

Arrivals by ambulance also rose by 9.5 percent, while falling by around three percent at the other two hospitals.

Just over 50 percent of Maitland Hospital patients began their treatment on time, down more than ten percent on the same time last year.

There was an almost 15 percent fall in the percent of patients transferred from paramedics to the emergency department in less than half an hour, though the John Hunter saw a five percent improvement, to be the fastest in the state.

Ms Chapman says the State Government needs to start by taking a serious look at the numbers.

"I think they should read it for a start," she said. "I think they should honestly look at it, and go, 'Okay, what have we done here, and do we need to  redirect some services to Maitland?'"

"We're in a bad way, so I would say look at the data and do something about it."

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.  

Cambridge Hotel Listed As COVID Venue Of Concern

 BY IAN CROUCH

NSW Health has advised another popular Newcastle pub is a COVID venue of concern.

Anyone who attended the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle West between 6.30pm last Friday and 2.30am on Saturday is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 7 days.

All household contacts of close contacts should also be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received by everyone in the household.

The Cambridge was visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19, and it's likely some of those have the Omicron variant.

It follows a spike in cases linked to the Argyle House Nightclub, a medical ball at NEX on Friday night, and another high risk exposure at Finnegan's Hotel on Darby Street.  

 

NSW Health has listed The Cambridge Hotel as a venue of concern

UPDATE! Removalists confirmed as COVID-19 positive cases which has closed a Wallsend Service Station

BY JARROD MELMETH

UPDATE 10:15AM

Hunter New England Health have confirmed the Coles Express which has undergone deep cleaning was visited by two COVID-19 positive removalists from Sydney.

The removalists spent 15 minutes at the service station and were wearing masks at the time, however due to the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant, anyone who attended between 2:45pm and 3pm on Saturday 17 July is being asked to immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. The workers inside the station have been forced into 14 days isolation.

Public Health Physician David Durrheim says the removalists were not aware they had the virus.

"The nature of their work means that they travel extensively all around NSW and the very nature of the exertion that their work requires means they are exhaling and huffing and puffing a lot during their work so they could very easily transmit the virus," Mr Durrheim said.

The customers who the removalists were moving have also been placed into isolation for 14 days.

EARLIER 

BY IAN CROUCH

A Wallsend service station has been identified by NSW Health as a COVID-19 exposure site.

Hunter New England Health says the Coles Express on the westbound side of Thomas Street was visited by a person who had tested positive to COVID-19.

Public Health Physician David Durrheim says anyone who visited the service station between 2.45pm and 3.00pm on Saturday 17 July is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

The service station has been closed for deep cleaning.

Maitland Hospital Set To Open Early 2022

BY JARROD MELMETH

Construction on the new Maitland Hospital is ahead of schedule and is set to be taking patients by early 2022.

The Health Minister toured the site yesterday and touted the $470 million facility which will be home to a number of services including emergency care, chemotherapy chairs, surgical, critical care, maternity, paediatric, cardiac catherisation, mental health, palliative care, outpatient clinics and dental services.

The redevelopment will also include a $30 million car park, bringing the total investment to $500 million.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says its fantastic to see the progress.

"The new hospital is on track to deliver world-class health care for the Hunter community from early next year.

"The project is a major opportunity to embrace technology and innovation, creating new ways of working and ultimately improving health outcomes for patients," Mr Hazzard said.

The new hospital is expected to be handed over from the builder in the next couple of months and then a commissioning period will be undertaken.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison joined the the Minister for the tour and says it is a landmark building.

"To see this project rise out of landscape into such a world class facility is a testament to the many valued workers in our health care system who have provided their input into the way our hospital should operate.

"The innovations are inspiring and show the genuine care and concern for patients," Ms Aitchison said.

The new hospital will also feature the largest scale installation of an artwork commissioned in a NSW Health facility.

The artwork which will be housed in the main foyer is designed by artist Peter Poulet and is described as a piece drawing on stories collected from locals and is an abstract representation of the Maitland area, the river and surrounding landscape.

Another piece along the arbour along the drop of and entry to the building has been commissioned by indigenous artist Saretta Fielding and celebrates Wonnarua Country. 

Health Minister Brad Hazzard & Maitland MP Jenny
Aitchison on site. Photo: Jenny Aitchison

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.

COVID Warning After Virus Found In Newcastle's Sewage Network

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle residents are being urged to watch out for symptoms and get tested immediately after Coronavirus fragments were found in the city's sewage network.

A sample taken from the Burwood Beach Treatment Plant on April 21 revealed fragments of the virus.

The treatment plant serves 225,000 people in Newcastle as well as Dudley, Charlestown, Kahibah and Highfields.

NSW Health says it's likely the fragments come from people who've recovered from COVID-19 but are continuing to shed fragments of the virus weeks later.

However it's possible there are undetected cases in the community and people with cold-like symptoms are being urged to get tested and remain isolated until they receive a negative result.

No New Covid-19 Cases Recorded in the Hunter Today, 5 Active Cases in Region

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hunter New England Health have reported no new Covid-19 cases in the Hunter region today.

There have been 14 new cases diagnosed in the NSW today, none of which are connected to the Hunter.

The latest NSW Health figures as of 12pm Tuesday July 28th, show there are currently 5 active cases in the region.

Two cases are in the postcode 2290, suburbs within this postcode include:

BENNETTS GREEN  CHARLESTOWN  DUDLEY  GATESHEAD  HILLSBOROUGH

KAHIBAH  MOUNT HUTTON  REDHEAD  TINGIRA HEIGHTS WHITEBRIDGE

Two cases are in the postcode 2315, suburbs within this post code include:

• CORLETTE 
• FINGAL BAY 
• NELSON BAY 
• SHOAL BAY 

One case is in the post code 2316, suburbs within this postcode include: 

ANNA BAY BOAT HARBOUR BOBS FARM

FISHERMANS BAY ONE MILE  TAYLORS BEACH

Despite the continuing legal limit of 20 people, NSW Health are advising residents to not host or go to a gathering of more than 10 people at home.

Anyone feeling unwell - even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat is urged to  seek testing and self-isolate until they get the result.

Want to Thank a Nurse or Midwife For Exceptional Care? You Can Nominate Them For a NSW Health Award

BY SAMUEL BARTLETT

Nominations are now open for Hunter Nurses and Midwives who are eligible for the Healing Heart Award at this year's NSW Health Excellence in Nursing & Midwifery Awards.

Patients, families and carers can nominate a nurse or midwife who showed exceptional care during their stay and they will be awarded at this year's ceremony in November.

Elizabeth Grist the Executive Director of Clinical Services and Nursing and Midwifery in the Hunter New England Local Health District, says the award honours those who made a significant impact by going above and beyond.

Ms Grist says, “The Healing Heart Award is a chance for the people of Hunter New England Health to extend their heartfelt thanks to the best in our professions."

Corona-virus fears put the ceremony on hold but the event is set to go ahead online in November.

NSW Chief Nurse and Midwife Officer says “The awards are a highlight of our calendar, but this year instead of a live event held in Sydney, we will be broadcasting the show to the nurses and midwives wherever they are in NSW with a virtual format in November,”

“We will create an awards show experience that will be special, unforgettable and quite specific to the extraordinary year we’re all experiencing” Ms Cross says.

The awards also carry special significance in 2020, which is the international year of the nurse and midwife.

Nominations for Nurses and Midwives close on the 27th of July and can be made on the NSW Health website at health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/enma

Photo from NSW Health

Boil Water Alert For Singleton Lifted

A precautionary boil water alert for parts of Singleton has been lifted after NSW Health gave the all clear at a meeting with Singleton Council this morning.

Customers in the affected areas of The Glade, Gowrie, Maison Dieu and Hambledon Hill and McDougalls Hill are advised to flush their pipework by running their back outdoor tap for 10 minutes before resuming normal use.

Flushing of pipework in properties affected by the boil water alert is exempt from water restrictions.

The boil water alert was issued for the Glade, Gowrie, Maison Dieu and Hambledon Hill on Monday 10 February, and extended to McDougalls Hill on Tuesday 11 February following water sampling results  that showed turbidity above and chlorine levels below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Investigations into the cause of test results indicated that dirt entered the water network during heavy rainfall across the 8th and 9th of February.

Council staff worked across the weekend with testing showing that turbidity and chlorine levels had returned to normal.

Katie Hardy, Council’s Manager Water and Sewer Network, said Council staff would doorknock residents with information the boil water alert had been lifted, as well as contact businesses. Customers who collected free bottled water will also be emailed.

Information will be available on Council’s website and Facebook page as well as on the variable message board on Maison Dieu Road.

The standpipe at Maison Dieu will be recommissioned for normal use and has been flushed by Council Officers.

“Council teams have been hard at work since the boil water alert was issued to drain and clean the reservoirs and scour pipework within the affected area,” Ms Hardy said.

“Since the reservoirs were flushed last Thursday and Friday, we’ve been undertaking regular testing across the weekend that showed the water was back to safe levels with no microbial contamination detected.

“On the advice of NSW Health, the boil water alert has now been lifted.

“We advise customers to flush their system by running their external tap for 10 minutes, which will be exempt from water restrictions, before drinking the water.”

Ms Hardy said Council was aware of the concern in the community as a result of the boil water alert, and thousands of bottles of water were distributed to affected residents in response to the situation.

“Council appreciates this situation caused some inconvenience for our customers last week, and we thank you for your patience and understanding,” she said

Newcastle Residents are Paying More than the State and National Average for GP Visits

BY ISABEL EVERETT

New figures released by the NSW Health Department show Newcastle residents are paying more than the State and National average for a GP visit. 

Out of pocket costs have increased by 35% over the last six years, with Novacastrians paying an average of $38 to see a doctor. 

The data follows a change to medicare rebates introduced on January 1st 2020, which saw bulk billing incentives for GP'S in the Newcastle area decrease from $9.50 to $6.30 per patient. 

Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon says it's costing people and their families too much.

'"We have a fantastic health system in Newcastle really, but it is one that should always be premised on universal access," she said. 

"The point of having a universal health scheme is ensuring there are quality health services which can be delivered all around the nation regardless of where you live or how much money you've got in your wallet." 

Ms Claydon says many Hunter residents choose to forgo doctor's visits because of the prohibitive costs. 

"People are already facing a growing burden of housing and energy bills and record low wages, so it's no wonder they're avoiding or delaying doctors visits," she said. 

"The challenge is how do we continue given they are now faced with these price barriers and record highs in out of pocket expenses."

The data also revealed only 23.2% of Newcastle residents are always bulk billed for specialist appointments, which average at $84.53 per appoinment. 

                                          Image Credit: Croakey

Horse Owners to Continue as Usual

BY ALICE PEART

Horse owners in the Upper Hunter have been given the all-clear to continue as usual after a confirmed case of the deadly Hendra virus last week on a property near Scone.

The case was reported after rapid on-set of symptoms in an unvaccinated mare on Friday, June 7 when the owners called the animal diseases hotline.

It is the furthest south the virus has been detected in the state but officials have said there is no further cause for alarm.

The infected horse was euthanised and the remaining horses on the property are being closely monitored by the District Vet.

Apart from the property involved in the case there are no transport restrictions and owners are being told planned events should continue as usual, with the importance of good biosecurity compliance being stressed.

For more information on the virus visit the DPI site.

NSW Health Minister to Review Issues with Hunter Hospitals

BY ALICE PEART

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has met with the state Health Minister to raise concerns from the community over key issues in the Hunter health system.

Ms Hornery said it was a brief but productive discussion covering three things:

"It was about security guards and ensuring that we can look at a review of what we need in hospitals to make sure that staff and patients are safe.

We looked at waiting times and we also talked about the congestion and gridlock that's at the John Hunter Hospital with an emphasis on the mornings and afternoons and our quest to reinstate the shuttle service, because we know it was a very successful and popular service".

Reviews into the issues are expected to be initiated in the coming weeks with Ms Hornery saying she will be keeping a close eye on the process and that she expects the Minister to be accountable for some outcomes.

Renewed Calls for Additional Hospital Security

BY ALICE PEART


Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has renewed her calls for additional security guards to be employed across NSW hospitals following an attack on a staff member by a patient early yesterday morning at the Mater Hospital.

A 22-year old male patient attempted to stab a security guard with a pair of scissors who suffered cuts and scratches to the face.

Ms Hornery has called for an additional 250 security guards across NSW, with some of those allocated to the John Hunter and Mater hospitals, better training for those staff and for security guards to be given authority to detain violent patients.

"It is about making sure we have adequate security guards on deck to protect one another and to protect the staff and patients", she told 2NURFM today.

The issue of security in NSW hospitals has been reviewed multiple times in recent years.

The latest findings however make no explicit reference to increasing the number of security guards nor the detaining of patients. The review by former police and health minister Peter Anderson made 48 recommendations, particularly highlighting the importance of changing the culture around security services including clothing, punitive attitudes and refraining from acting as a "nightclub bouncer".

Contrary to the call for the detaining of violent patients, NSW Health has advocated for the minimising of patient seclusion and restraint. Changes which have been implemented successfully in the Creating Positive Cultures of Care program at the John Hunter NEXUS facility.

The attack at the Mater follows others on local emergency service workers in the past fortnight.

Ms Hornery says the priority should be keeping patients and staff safe, "Our staff go to work everyday and they deserve to be kept safe and in a position where they are not threatened by violence".

Combating Low Staff Numbers at John Hunter Hospital

BY: ARIANA GATTI

With low numbers of nurses available to assist patients, the John Hunter Hospital is in the spotlight this week as in need of an increase in employees.

A Notice of Motion has been lodged asking the National Minister of Health to address understaffing issues, in order to improve the quality of care and eventual recoveries of patients being admitted and treated at the hospital.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association have come forward to report that patients have missed out on at least 7,000 hours of nursing care in total, due to the lack of staff available to provide the services.

The Association is asking for the number of staff to increase, to meet a necessary standard and quota of at least one nurse to three patients to operate in emergency departments, paediatric wards and critical care units.

The campaign also includes advocating for an improvement of staff ratios within mental health and rehabilitation units, as well as for newborn baby care in maternity wards to be added to the list.

Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, says upping the staff numbers now will help care for the future success of the hospital.

"The quality of care suffers because the nurses are run off their feet, and we all acknowledge how hard our nurses work".

"We will continue to write questions and continue to raise this matter in Parliament and I'm hopeful that the Minister for Health and the NSW Premier listen to my concerns, and the concerns of the NSW Nurses Association", she says.

Image sourced: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-06/the-entrance-to-newcastle27s-john-hunter-hospital.jpg/4555156