Plea over mouldy aircon in hospital

STAFF at the Townsville Hospital’s palliative care unit claim a malfunctioning airconditioning system is full of mould that is “health hazard” to workers and vulnerable patients.

Several staff at the Palliative Care Centre met with Australian Workers’ Union representatives on Friday frustrated at what they claimed had been two years of failed attempts to get the “old brokendown” airconditioning system repaired or replaced.

AWU northern district organiser Peter Ward recently inspected the unit himself and said the stench from the mould was “overwhelming”.

“The old ducting is full of spores, a health hazard in itself,” he said.

“One lady I was there with said she couldn’t breathe due to the mould.

“Safety reports have been filled out ad nauseam over the past two years but nothing has been done.”

Mr Ward said complaints from the patients’ grieving families had also been ignored.

“They expect a functional airconditioner to help with their loved ones’ quality of life,” he said.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service acting chief executive Kieran Keyes said management had been aware of the unit’s airconditioners underperforming for about 12 months and the presence of mould but denied they had broken down.

Mr Keyes said the hospital would tender this month for an up- grade of airconditioning infrastructure at the Townsville Palliative Care Unit.

“As the airconditioners have aged, their performance has begun to deteriorate which is why we have applied for, and received, funding to upgrade them,” he said.

“The Townsville HHS has … put in place a number of actions to maximise their effectiveness until the upgrade of the equipment is complete, including additional maintenance works.

“The temperature of the unit is consistently between 23C and 25C.”

Mr Keyes said the THHS had provided advice to patients and staff to on how to best keep the rooms cool. But he said due to patient rooms having a door that leads to a balcony and a door that leads to the ward’s main corridor, the outside humidity had caused the growth of mould.

“Having both these doors open has a significant impact on the temperature of the unit and impacts the humidity in the area,” he said.

“The ( THHS) investigated indoor air- quality concerns and found the environment has a low level of risk for patients and staff.

“This is something the health service is aware of and has begun a regimented cleaning procedure to mitigate any risk in the short term ahead of the upgrade.”

A dehumidifier has also been installed in the unit to reduce the risk of mould growing.

The $ 1.035 million upgrade, funded by the State Government, is expected to be completed in October.