Newcastle hospital mould breaches safety limits 185 times
Calvary Mater hospital broke mould safety limits 185 times in 16 months. The worst breach reached about 50 times the safe level.
Internal documents show how serious the mould crisis was at Newcastle's Calvary Mater hospital. Mould safety breaches happened 185 times between April 2025 and August 2026.
The most dangerous type was Aspergillus fumigatus. It was found 79 times.
Aspergillus fumigatus can cause serious fungal infections and pneumonia in people with weak immune systems. A heating and ventilation system without dehumidification caused the problem.
Ward 5D housed cancer patients. Mould there reached 49 times the safe level before it closed in December.
About five patients were moved from the ICU for cleaning. A NSW Health task force is fixing the hospital's air-conditioning systems and addressing moisture problems.
- 185 times
- Safety breaches
- 16 months
- Breach timeframe
- 79 times
- Aspergillus fumigatus detections
- 50 times safe level
- Worst breach multiple
Why it mattersPatient safety is at risk when hospitals cannot keep basic air quality standards in place.
AustraliaNSW hospitals need urgent attention to infection control; about 120 families are pursuing a class action over alleged mould-related deaths at the Mater.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 6 d ago
