Possums, asbestos and pigeons: snap review into NSW hospitals highlights serious maintenance issues

Possums, asbestos and pigeons: snap review into NSW hospitals highlights serious maintenance issues Health minister pledges to work quickly to improve hygiene after mould outbreak in Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital left two patients dead Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales government has announced a snap review of serious hospital maintenance issues after a mould outbreak in a transplant ward at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital left two patients dead in late 2025. The health minister, Ryan Park, on Monday pledged that the health system will work “as quickly as possible” to rectify issues which span possums to asbestos, as well as pigeons and bird lice. The snap review so far identified 112 non-routine issues over the past year, of which more than half (74) have been resolved, 32 are currently being rectified while six are “being looked at more closely”. In a statement Park said: “We know that governments of all persuasions have experienced these challenges that have been reported publicly including mosquitos at Liverpool Hospital in 2019; crickets at Goulburn Hospital in 2021; beetles at Coffs Harbour Hospital in 2020; mould at Wyong in 2013; and asbestos, leaking roof, and a possum at Concord Hospital in 2016. “I now know of maintenance issues not known to have been reported in the media including flies at Royal North Shore in 2019; birds at Westmead in 2017; cockroaches at Wyong in 2017; possums at Balmain in 2012; pigeons at Gladesville in 2017 and bird lice at Tamworth in 2022,” Park said. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Based on health documents uncovered by the opposition, the shadow health minister, Sarah Mitchell, accused the government of not having acted on maintenance and hygiene issues, including some that were first reported back in 2023. Mitchell said “patients go to hospital for treatment and care, not to be put in further danger due to toxic...