NT hospital staff exposed to smell of decomposing bodies, left sick, union says

Royal Darwin Hospital staff have been left feeling "physically sick" from the smell of decomposing bodies overflowing from the morgue, according to the Health Services Union (HSU), which claims the Northern Territory government has failed to act despite years of complaints.

HSU SA/NT branch secretary Billy Elrick said pathology workers, including medical scientists, work directly above the hospital's "ageing" morgue and share one air-conditioning system, which has resulted in odours spreading on a "routine basis".

He said exposure to the smells of dead bodies was now making it difficult for staff to go to work, with some describing the experience as "deeply distressing".

"Staff have raised instances of feeling unwell, nauseous or reporting a psychosocial injury as a result of being exposed to the decomposing smell of bodies," he said.

"When bodies arrive in the mortuary in an already decomposing state, that's when the impact is the worst."

The NT's former Labor government announced in 2023 that a new morgue would be built, but those plans have not eventuated, leaving staff to deal with what Mr Elrick called an "extremely outdated" facility. 

"There is an overflow of bodies at the mortuary on a regular and routine basis," Mr Elrick said.

"It's not equipped with the appropriate facilities to manage bodies, particularly in a state of decomposition.

"It's certainly standard practice across the country and elsewhere to have a dedicated airflow from a mortuary because of the smells and the other potential risks that are associated with decomposing bodies."

Mr Elrick said he was aware of more than a dozen staff complaints to the NT government, but took issue with the attempts that had been made to rectify the issue.

"They've provided staff with things like air fresheners and masks to deal with the smell,"

he said.

"It's unacceptable for workers and deeply undignified for grieving families."

On Wednesday, NT Health Minister Steve Edgington said he was not able to say exactly what was causing the issue but promised there would be a fix.

He noted $3 million dollars had been allocated to the morgue in the May budget, of which $1 million would be spent on a new design and $2 million on repairs and maintenance.

"The issue at the morgue is being looked at as we speak to determine if it is an air-conditioning matter," he said.

Health staff reporting illnesses from 'widespread' mould issues

The union claims the NT government has also ignored repeated complaints from staff around mould at two separate NT Health facilities.

Mr Elrick said despite recent attempts to remove a pervasive mould infestation from Casuarina Plaza, a building where a number of NT Health offices are located, workers alleged it had already returned.

He said there were also issues of "widespread" mould at the Alice Springs Hospital, despite staff repeatedly raising the issue. 

He noted the podiatry treatment room, which accommodates vulnerable patients, including those who have undergone amputations and may be at heightened risk of infection, had a particular issue. 

"The presentation of mould, and it's been a long-standing presentation of mould at Alice Springs, shows that this is not just an issue to Casuarina Plaza, it's an issue that NT Health and this government is not taking serious and proper care of its health facilities," he said. 

"Many of the workers [at both sites] have reported to us that they have dizziness, headaches and other symptoms as a result of attending whilst there's mould present in their workplace.

"Health workers shouldn't have to worry about whether their workplace is making them sick. They deserve better, and so do the patients they're treating."

Mr Elrick said the union was considering making an application to the Fair Work Commission if the issues were not resolved. 

Mr Edgington said the NT Health department was investigating alternative premises for staff working at Casuarina Plaza and that "we have been doing the deep cleans and managing the issue of mould".

Mr Edgington said he was not able to provide a timeline for any move but he had also asked the department to get to the bottom of the mould issue in Alice Springs after he was informed about it yesterday.