June 2026
The ANMF (SA Branch) has secured improved outcomes for staff and patient safety at the Noarlunga Hospital operating theatres and Central Sterile Service Department (CSSD) areas following an extensive investigation into environmental and health standards.
Concerns were first raised by ANMF SA members after two humidity breaches earlier this year, prompting questions about mould, air quality and the overall safety of the clinical environment.
The first major breach occurred on 13 January 2026, when humidity levels in the theatre sterile stock area reached 80 per cent — far exceeding the safe operating threshold of 63 per cent.
All sterile stock in the affected area was subsequently discarded due to condensation and compromised sterility.
A second breach occurred just two weeks later, despite initial repairs.
Once again, all theatre stock, including anaesthetic and scrub equipment, had to be removed.
The resulting shortages led to theatre cancellations, with only limited replacement stock supplied by Flinders Medical Centre, insufficient to maintain safe clinical operations.
Nursing staff were left to explain the cancellations to patients, a responsibility outside normal procedure and one that caused significant psychological distress.
The ANMF SA met with management and staff to ensure transparent communication about the underlying air condition issues and seek a commitment that steps were being taken to resolve the matter.
The ANMF SA met with management and staff to ensure transparent communication about the underlying air-conditioning issues and to secure a commitment that the problems would be fully addressed.
A SALHN building assessment later confirmed that substantial repairs were required, with key components needing to be sourced from overseas.
During the theatre’s function and suitability assessment, biological testing detected mould, triggering a mandatory seven day retest.
The ANMF SA requested all relevant reports from the employer but did not receive them until issuing formal notice of a Right of Entry (RoE) investigation under Section 120 of the WHS Act.
Following this, management provided the formal reports, a program of works, engineering investigations into the humidity issues and filter test results.
Importantly, the reports confirmed that staff had not been placed at risk by the mould.
ANMF SA Secretary/CEO Elizabeth Dabars praised members for raising their concerns and reaffirmed the importance of speaking up about safety.
“Nurses and midwives are dedicated to ensuring patient safety and compliance, so they need to speak freely and speak up when they feel their employer has failed to do the same,” she said.
“This outcome shows the power of collective action, when members speak up, real change happens.”