Patients, families describe horror at ‘disgusting’ Tamworth hospital rehabilitation ward

On Saturday, The Leader published comments from former patient and engineer Bill Bryan, who claimed the conditions were appalling and there had been multiple sewerage bursts and ceiling leaks. 

“I’m a senior engineer with 40 years’ experience,” Mr Bryan said.

“If this had occurred anywhere else, the whole unit would have been shut down.”

Former patient Margaret Woollard echoed Mr Bryan’s concerns about the “antiquated” facility in light of the costly redevelopment. 

Mrs Woollard spent about two months in the rehabilitation unit in 2013. 

“It was ghastly. In view of the new hospital, it is quite appalling that nothing has been done,” she said. 

“It’s something that’s been a big worry to me. Every time it rained, the staff ran around with buckets.”

Mr Bryan also spoke of leaks in the building as recently as last month. With water pooling on the floors, he said it could be a slipping risk for patients trying to recover and rehabilitate. 

Mrs Woollard said the bathroom situation needed improvement and the lack of privacy was sometimes “primitive”. 

She said there were too few bathrooms and only just enough space to fit a wheelchair in them. 

“It was difficult to get walkers and wheelchairs in,” she said. 

“The hospitals I worked in 50 years ago weren’t as bad as that.”

Mrs Woollard said she was told to brush her teeth wherever she could find a sink. 

She said more should be done to make the unit more comfortable to help patients during their recovery. 

“But the staff were marvellous – I would have to give them 10 out of 10,” Mrs Woollard said.

Tamworth hospital general manager Brad Hansen last week detailed $80,000 worth of improvements to the rehabilitation ward in recent years, including new reverse-cycle airconditioning, new roofing, new flooring in patient rooms, a new nurses’ station and awning over the ward driveway.

Mrs Woollard said these appeared to be only cosmetic changes when large-scale change was needed, but she did praise the extension to the verandah outside the wards. 

“To go out and sit in the sun was very pleasant,” she said.