A mould outbreak in Calvary Mater Hospital’s AC system, known since Oct 2024 but not reported until April 2025, endangered patients and sparked a class action.

A severe mould outbreak, identified as Aspergillus, in Calvary Mater Hospital’s air-conditioning system—including cancer wards—has raised alarms over patient safety, with evidence showing the contamination was known by the maintenance contractor, Honeywell, as early as October 2024 but not reported until April 2025. The mould poses a serious risk to immunocompromised patients and is linked to higher-than-expected pneumonia deaths despite a statewide decline. Upper Hunter MP David Layzell is urging NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to launch an independent investigation outside the Hunter New England Health district to ensure transparency, criticizing the delay in action. A class action is underway for families who lost loved ones between January 2024 and April 2025. The hospital has since installed air filtration and conducted deep cleans, but SafeWork issued an improvement notice in June over mould, slips, and electrical hazards, while leaked photos revealed corroded, mould-filled water tanks and missed inspections. Despite these concerns, the Health Minister maintains that an inquiry is not necessary and is focusing on a management plan.