Briefing notes prepared for health service management earlier in the year indicated the hospital’s compression system did not meet Australian or international hospital standards.

“The risks identified with the current system indicate that there is a possibility of water, oil or vapour contamination in the breathing air as there is no standby dryer, no coalescing filter and no carbon filter incorporated in the system,” the document stated.

“There is no electronic monitoring system in place with the existing compressor, meaning that there is a risk of an unrecognised breakdown.

“Finally, the risk assessment identified that the current compressor is noisy and emits dangerous fumes into the compressor room, which is in a confined space, resulting in the possibility of industrial deafness or asphyxiation.”

During August there were additional concerns raised about the compressors, and the amount of money spent “to keep this plant limping along”, with concerns further repairs resulted in “throwing good money after bad”.

Then in September a memo from Mr Farquhar complained, “I am getting daily reminders from the staff that the medical air compressors are showing signs of breaking down again”.

The memo pushed for new compressors to replace the ailing and faulty ones.

Pleas were ignored

REPEATED problems with Shoalhaven Hospital’s air compressor are in contrast with comments made by South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health’s Southern Hospital Network general manager, Sue Browbank.

Following media coverage of the compressor breaking down in November, Ms Browbank wrote to the South Coast Register claiming, “As soon as the problem with the air compressor became evident, communication with clinical staff began immediately and was quickly followed by the activation of the agreed contingency plan which was developed by the hospital’s clinicians.”

However documents obtained under Freedom of Information reveal a history of problems and break-downs with the hospital’s compressors, even forcing patients to be transferred to other hospitals before November’s major failure.

While hospital staff repeatedly called for compressors to be replaced, a new compressor was not ordered until after the failure.

The documents show hospital staff were pressuring health service management back in August to replace the compressors, only to be told there was “once again negligible money available this year”.

In November the new air compressor was still before the area health service awaiting approval.