Newcastle Private Hospital - New Lambton Heights, New South Wales

John Smith

I’m absolutely disgusted with our experience at Newcastle Private. My granddaughter is currently a patient there, and I’ve just left. The nursing staff were terrible, and the facilities were in poor condition. The toilet door lock in the room was broken, the hot water tap in the kitchen area didn’t work, and the food was appalling. My granddaughter was served chips and nuggets that were so hard they were inedible. To make matters worse, the meal was delivered on a plate so hot that you couldn’t touch it. Both lunch and dinner were completely uneatable, so I had to go out and get food for my daughter and granddaughter. The staff seemed miserable, walking around with sour faces, and everything felt like a hassle. Rude responses to any questions. How is it possible to charge nearly $3000 for one night and offer such substandard facilities? There is a clear sign on every bed stating you must leave by 10am and if you need to wait for someone, you can do so in the lounge area. We will never return. Absolutely disgusting.

Greg Hodson

Well I have now been to this hospital twice in the last year. My first experience was when I had Hartmanns procedure done by my colonoscopy doctor who did everything for me and very professional. I am a Myasthenia Gravis patient and need specialist care and I was also in ICU to monitor me. I cannot praise them enough for the way in which they cared for me. The second time I went there I have the same surgeon and anaesthetist who was a lovely lady who went through everything that was need regard my MG. I was very impressed the food and I would like to say keep up the good work. I would like to hope that some time in the near future there will be an upgrade of this private hospital. You got 4 ? from me and a big thank you.

Craig Buttenshaw

Terrible hospital with the most incredibly bad nursing staff I have ever encountered. I have unfortunately required many stays at hospital in my life and all of those I have always had pleasant interactions with staff, wether that be reception or nursing( this review does not include doctors they were fantastic)
After waiting hours without being informed of what was happening I finally got to my bed. The nurses were disgusting, patient care was non existent , instead they sat ariund talking about nursing politics in there workplace. I left a T-shirt in the room I got changed in, was prepped for surgery and I was told I left it In there, instead of being helpful and putting it with my things I had to get up in my gown and retrieve it. Any other circumstance that would be fine but just before I go to surgery it was completely inappropriate.
The attitude of these nurses was so distressing I was very concerned at the level of care they would be able to provide. It was a very confronting environment to be in , they did not even know I was to stay overnight even though the papers said so, I was made to feel as if it was my fault. The level of care post op while still under the affects of anaesthesia was just terrible and mad me so mad I left the hospital at night and was going to walk to John hunter until I was convinced to return by doctors
A disgusting hospital with even worse nursing staff. I challenge hospital management to reach out to me I would be more than happy to elaborate

Lisa Parrey

This place is appalling. I was recently on Level 2 sth, but was a rehab patient. I had no problems at all with the Rehab side of my stay. The Physios, OTs and Dr Tarrent were all fantastic.
My first Room so cold, got colder and colder but no-one would do anything. It was a very known problem, but constantly told central control nothing they can do. At end you could have got frostbite on a 45 deg day. I had to threaten, either they fix, move me or I’ll discharge myself. Finally I was moved but too late. I requested Doctor, he refused saying I didn’t have a temperature, but I was struggling to breathe. Next Doctor also didn’t come, was nearly 24 hours before I saw a doctor. I ended up with HMPV and suspected pneumonia by the time I was moved. That night, struggling to breathe, male Nurse, on alone. (Should never be one male nurse on alone with women ). He knew of my breathing problems, I pressed buzzer for at least 20 minutes, no response. Didn’t even come to see issue to triage. I was gasping for breath and had to ring hospital and speak to hospital manager and gasping for breath told her he wouldn’t respond to buzzer and had had problems before with him. Hospital Manager came up and he came with her, first I’d seen him. While in room alone with me yelled at me saying he had other people he had to deal with, I responded but unless you come and see what my problem is , how do you know they’re more urgent. He threatened to send me back to JHH emergency.
Nearly 24 hours before got a doctor to see me. THIS IS ABUSE and NEGLECT
Rarely are buzzes responded to in under 15 minutes. Should be around 5. At my age my bladder doesn’t do 20 minutes. Been in another Private often, never had any complaints.
In quarantine, meal trays not being removed. At Breakfast menus put in late and my choices not given. Two trays at 10.15am in my room with menu for next day
Meals were late, as only when nurses felt like it did they bring then in but cold.
Nurses took longer to respond , possibly due to having to gown and Mask up, so avoiding me.

So may things didn’t work properly. TV missing channels. Lights worked intermittently. Buzzer light comes on sometimes but not others and a number of other things along the way, either nurses had to get another thermometer, or cuff for blood pressure machine etc.
2nd week kitchen decided to put me on a diabetic menu and claimed didn’t get my menu, yet made no effort to get it, First meal, all I could eat was 4 prawns.
In 24 hours kitchen could not get a menu completed for me
Wifi not consistent and very weak, only one nurse in my stay cleaned the wounds when changing dressing, others just changed dressings.
Discharged with no follow up care. Especially wound care or respiratory illness I obtained through their neglect. My GP was appalled.
There is a recession and many people dropping private Health insurance, but that just increases the competition. I will never return to your hospital for medical care, it was appalling.
I never received an apology for the neglect, respiratory illnesses, refusal of doctors. Never offered compensation nor apology nor my gap fee refunded.

Cant send feedback to hospital, it says incorrect CAPTCHA yet there is no CAPTCHA. Very convenient.

Was told they would send me a manual feedback form when advised about webpage and CAPCHA. Never received. It's obvious from feedback here Hospital Nor Healthscope want to know nor fix problems

I get home to a bill for a chest xray I had to have due to the respiratory illness,, I was in for a broken femur for rehab.

I have only asked to be reimbursed for the nebuliser I had to buy going home and for them to quash the bill for the xray, as if not for their neglect, i would not need a chest x-ray. Anyone else who want to join me in a law suit, its time for them to learn that gross neglect has consequences. You can see from the reviews Healthscope knows, but couldn't care less. I strongly advise not to go to this hospital.

Wendy Dries

My daughter is currently in the maternity section as a first time mum with her husband. The support and help they are receiving is disgusting. She has had a caesarean and has to ask for pain relief she also asked for clean compression socks and was told to wash the ones she had. She had been extremely sick after the delivery her husband asked for hydro lite and was told they don’t have that and would have to go to the Chemist to get it. He obviously doesn’t want to leave her as she can barely move. I was there for 5 hours and not one nurse came near her to ask or check, how she was. Terrible my experience 28 years ago was certainly better and you’d think things would have improved. But no the nursing and support is unacceptable.

Trudi King

The cafe outside of the hospital in the old original building is great. I had a salad sandwich. It was very fresh and delicious. Also had a mocha coffee . It was so good. Happy service from the staff . It has an outdoor seating . .Cambridge building

Grahame Silis

A huge Thank You, to the magnificent Team at NPH.
The warm friendly reception Team. The extraordinary Nurses that gave me so much care and spoilt me. Most importantly a massive Thanks to the Doctors and Everyone working at this Hospital.

I wish I remembered everyone's name, but a huge shout out to Janelle, Cindy, Vanessa, Nathan, Linda, Dr Harrigan and Dr Koshy.

Highly Recommended 5 Star +

Donna Gulwell

Nurses have no empathy especially when you're in pain. The sarcasm "I can't just give you Panadol everytime you ask for it, just because you're in pain!". They walk in, turn your buzzer off and say "nope you still have to wait 2 hours" after they've told you what time your due! Trying to stretch the intervals out for as long as they can. I felt really
belittled in the way the staff spoke to me. Nobody called in all day to do any obs or check in on me except when I'm begging for pain relief and they're refusing it. They spilt my blood all over the blankets (big patches of blood) and just left me in them, didn't bother changing them for me (my husband ended up pulling them off the bed and sitting them in the corner). They might as well cut you open and leave you in the gutter to die miserably. Didn't even get asked if I'd like a cup of tea or coffee, just given a meal that was different to specific dietary requirements and expected to just deal with it. Got treated worse here than if I had of gone to a public hospital. Atrocious when you spend a fortune on top hospital cover.