MOULD CLOSES ICU AT CALVARY MATER NEWCASTLE
NSW Opposition Media Release
Shadow Minister for Health
Shadow Minister for Regional Health
Shadow Minister for Mental Health
02 Febraury,2026
The mould crisis at Calvary Mater Newcastle has escalated over the weekend with the ICU closed after air quality testing revealed an elevated risk for immuno-compromised patients and those with severe respiratory diseases.
This comes after the hospital closed two wards in January due to dangerous mould in the air-conditioning and maggots falling onto patients.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will this week call for an inquiry into the management, maintenance, and operational issues at the hospital, which Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell hopes will gain unanimous support.
“We’ve had mould, maggots, and now it’s ICU beds being closed. It’s not good enough, and it all needs to be investigated immediately,” Mrs Mitchell said.
Before the 2023 State Election, Premier Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park promised to improve working conditions for frontline health workers.
Hospital staff told media over weekend that the Calvary Mater resembles an episode of Stranger Things while family of patients referred to Ryan Park as the ‘Minister for Mould’.
Mrs Mitchell said while the Minns Labor Government talks the talk, they have once again failed to walk the walk.
“Senior bureaucrats said late last year that ‘the risk on the ground is very minimal’. Clearly that’s not the case, which is why a parliamentary inquiry is desperately needed to uncover the truth.”
