Strategic CEO hire to drive NeuroScientific stem cell therapy release
Smith has extensive experience in cell and gene therapies in senior commercial, operational and strategic roles in Australia and the United States, which should prove invaluable as the company navigates the regulatory and commercial pathways for its innovative StemSmart technology.
The company says his deep expertise in good practice manufacturing will be critical for converting the biotechnology startup into a scaled-up commercial stem cell company.
NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopgen.
StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease.
'I was attracted to NSB given the historical success of StemSmart in multiple serious clinical disorders and the clear potential of the technology for further development.'
NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith
Adding to the company's ranks of highly credentialled personnel, NeuroScientific announced on Friday that it had also recruited well-regarded Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer.
The news of both appointments has continued to fuel a stellar rise in the company's share price, which traded 11.3 per cent higher today to 24.5 cents on the best turnover since April. The company's share price is up 360 per cent since the start of June.
Smith was the director of business development at Melbourne's Cell Therapies, which develops and manufactures advanced cell-based therapies and is located within the city's pioneering Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He has held key roles at Genzyme Corporation, Mesoblast Inc and GlaxoSmithKline in the US, as well as other leading companies in the cell therapy sector.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
I was there when Honeysuckle was signed off. What went wrong?
I witnessed one of the best examples of co-operation between our three levels of government and our two main political parties when the Honeysuckle project was launched in Newcastle in 1992, three years after the earthquake. The initial $100 million fund to support the conversion of disused railway land in the Newcastle CBD was enabled by the Keating ALP government's Better Cities program, which provided two-thirds of the funding, with the remaining amount and management of the development being provided by the NSW Fahey Liberal government. The City of Newcastle, under the leadership of lord mayor John McNaughton, also played a critical role in supporting the changes required locally to make this urban renewal project happen. As the Hunter-based federal senator, I joined a roundtable in Newcastle City Hall when this bipartisan intergovernmental agreement was signed off in 1992. We had high hopes that the conversion of 50 hectares of derelict CBD railway land on the harbour would be a game-changer for the renewal of the city centre. Politicians then stepped back, and NSW bureaucrats took over the Honeysuckle project approvals process. Now, 33 years later, it's crucial to ask: has the Honeysuckle project, which is nearing completion, lived up to our initial high expectations? Regrettably, many of the planned green spaces have not materialised. The potential for the impressive 1988 Bicentennial Newcastle Foreshore greenspace project to extend down the harbour as far as Wickham was lost when apartment and hotel developments were approved on Honeysuckle land, encroaching on the harbour's edge. Near the restored former railway workshops, a very imaginative plan for a small boat harbour inlet was also scrapped. Initially, a mix of commercial and residential buildings was envisioned, but apart from notable exceptions such as NIB and Hunter Water, and a scattering of small businesses, Honeysuckle now predominantly has a concrete canyon of apartment buildings, all about the same height, for its entire length. There is, however, one last chance to offset some of this urban planning disaster. Next to the Interchange, on the western edge of the Honeysuckle land, are two remaining large parcels of undeveloped land west of Cottage Creek. The current plan is to create a 'gateway' to the CBD with even more intensive urban development, including additional apartments. This plan should be scrapped. The last thing Newcastle City needs is an extension of the current concrete canyon along Honeysuckle Drive. A much better gateway to the city would be open parkland, stretching from the Interchange to the harbour foreshore. This would provide an additional green space for the city, where it is needed most. This land is currently a car park by default. However, converted to parkland, it would provide critically needed open green space for the series of tower apartment buildings, some over 20 storeys, that have been built or are now under construction on nearby land in Newcastle West. I think this new park should be called Henry Lawson Park. It has only one small historic building, the forlorn and partially restored Wickham School of Arts. It was here that a teenage Lawson, who worked nearby, attended adult education classes in the evening in the 1890s - presumably to improve his English! Herald columnist Bradley Perrett called for the creation of a park in the city to rival Sydney's grand Hyde Park (Herald, 20/6). He suggested Lambton Park for extensive modification, and others have suggested Gregson Park, in Hamilton. There were objections published in the Herald to these locations because many families are keen to keep using the park facilities that had been developed and extensively used over many years. However, the proposed park space in Wickham at the end of Honeysuckle Drive is a blank canvas, and Perrett's idea of creating an impressive parkland to rival Sydney's Hyde Park would be well placed there, as a gateway to the CBD between the Interchange and the harbour. An additional lung for Newcastle in its most densely populated area should be the highest priority for the final stage of the Honeysuckle development. I witnessed one of the best examples of co-operation between our three levels of government and our two main political parties when the Honeysuckle project was launched in Newcastle in 1992, three years after the earthquake. The initial $100 million fund to support the conversion of disused railway land in the Newcastle CBD was enabled by the Keating ALP government's Better Cities program, which provided two-thirds of the funding, with the remaining amount and management of the development being provided by the NSW Fahey Liberal government. The City of Newcastle, under the leadership of lord mayor John McNaughton, also played a critical role in supporting the changes required locally to make this urban renewal project happen. As the Hunter-based federal senator, I joined a roundtable in Newcastle City Hall when this bipartisan intergovernmental agreement was signed off in 1992. We had high hopes that the conversion of 50 hectares of derelict CBD railway land on the harbour would be a game-changer for the renewal of the city centre. Politicians then stepped back, and NSW bureaucrats took over the Honeysuckle project approvals process. Now, 33 years later, it's crucial to ask: has the Honeysuckle project, which is nearing completion, lived up to our initial high expectations? Regrettably, many of the planned green spaces have not materialised. The potential for the impressive 1988 Bicentennial Newcastle Foreshore greenspace project to extend down the harbour as far as Wickham was lost when apartment and hotel developments were approved on Honeysuckle land, encroaching on the harbour's edge. Near the restored former railway workshops, a very imaginative plan for a small boat harbour inlet was also scrapped. Initially, a mix of commercial and residential buildings was envisioned, but apart from notable exceptions such as NIB and Hunter Water, and a scattering of small businesses, Honeysuckle now predominantly has a concrete canyon of apartment buildings, all about the same height, for its entire length. There is, however, one last chance to offset some of this urban planning disaster. Next to the Interchange, on the western edge of the Honeysuckle land, are two remaining large parcels of undeveloped land west of Cottage Creek. The current plan is to create a 'gateway' to the CBD with even more intensive urban development, including additional apartments. This plan should be scrapped. The last thing Newcastle City needs is an extension of the current concrete canyon along Honeysuckle Drive. A much better gateway to the city would be open parkland, stretching from the Interchange to the harbour foreshore. This would provide an additional green space for the city, where it is needed most. This land is currently a car park by default. However, converted to parkland, it would provide critically needed open green space for the series of tower apartment buildings, some over 20 storeys, that have been built or are now under construction on nearby land in Newcastle West. I think this new park should be called Henry Lawson Park. It has only one small historic building, the forlorn and partially restored Wickham School of Arts. It was here that a teenage Lawson, who worked nearby, attended adult education classes in the evening in the 1890s - presumably to improve his English! Herald columnist Bradley Perrett called for the creation of a park in the city to rival Sydney's grand Hyde Park (Herald, 20/6). He suggested Lambton Park for extensive modification, and others have suggested Gregson Park, in Hamilton. There were objections published in the Herald to these locations because many families are keen to keep using the park facilities that had been developed and extensively used over many years. However, the proposed park space in Wickham at the end of Honeysuckle Drive is a blank canvas, and Perrett's idea of creating an impressive parkland to rival Sydney's Hyde Park would be well placed there, as a gateway to the CBD between the Interchange and the harbour. An additional lung for Newcastle in its most densely populated area should be the highest priority for the final stage of the Honeysuckle development. I witnessed one of the best examples of co-operation between our three levels of government and our two main political parties when the Honeysuckle project was launched in Newcastle in 1992, three years after the earthquake. The initial $100 million fund to support the conversion of disused railway land in the Newcastle CBD was enabled by the Keating ALP government's Better Cities program, which provided two-thirds of the funding, with the remaining amount and management of the development being provided by the NSW Fahey Liberal government. The City of Newcastle, under the leadership of lord mayor John McNaughton, also played a critical role in supporting the changes required locally to make this urban renewal project happen. As the Hunter-based federal senator, I joined a roundtable in Newcastle City Hall when this bipartisan intergovernmental agreement was signed off in 1992. We had high hopes that the conversion of 50 hectares of derelict CBD railway land on the harbour would be a game-changer for the renewal of the city centre. Politicians then stepped back, and NSW bureaucrats took over the Honeysuckle project approvals process. Now, 33 years later, it's crucial to ask: has the Honeysuckle project, which is nearing completion, lived up to our initial high expectations? Regrettably, many of the planned green spaces have not materialised. The potential for the impressive 1988 Bicentennial Newcastle Foreshore greenspace project to extend down the harbour as far as Wickham was lost when apartment and hotel developments were approved on Honeysuckle land, encroaching on the harbour's edge. Near the restored former railway workshops, a very imaginative plan for a small boat harbour inlet was also scrapped. Initially, a mix of commercial and residential buildings was envisioned, but apart from notable exceptions such as NIB and Hunter Water, and a scattering of small businesses, Honeysuckle now predominantly has a concrete canyon of apartment buildings, all about the same height, for its entire length. There is, however, one last chance to offset some of this urban planning disaster. Next to the Interchange, on the western edge of the Honeysuckle land, are two remaining large parcels of undeveloped land west of Cottage Creek. The current plan is to create a 'gateway' to the CBD with even more intensive urban development, including additional apartments. This plan should be scrapped. The last thing Newcastle City needs is an extension of the current concrete canyon along Honeysuckle Drive. A much better gateway to the city would be open parkland, stretching from the Interchange to the harbour foreshore. This would provide an additional green space for the city, where it is needed most. This land is currently a car park by default. However, converted to parkland, it would provide critically needed open green space for the series of tower apartment buildings, some over 20 storeys, that have been built or are now under construction on nearby land in Newcastle West. I think this new park should be called Henry Lawson Park. It has only one small historic building, the forlorn and partially restored Wickham School of Arts. It was here that a teenage Lawson, who worked nearby, attended adult education classes in the evening in the 1890s - presumably to improve his English! Herald columnist Bradley Perrett called for the creation of a park in the city to rival Sydney's grand Hyde Park (Herald, 20/6). He suggested Lambton Park for extensive modification, and others have suggested Gregson Park, in Hamilton. There were objections published in the Herald to these locations because many families are keen to keep using the park facilities that had been developed and extensively used over many years. However, the proposed park space in Wickham at the end of Honeysuckle Drive is a blank canvas, and Perrett's idea of creating an impressive parkland to rival Sydney's Hyde Park would be well placed there, as a gateway to the CBD between the Interchange and the harbour. An additional lung for Newcastle in its most densely populated area should be the highest priority for the final stage of the Honeysuckle development. I witnessed one of the best examples of co-operation between our three levels of government and our two main political parties when the Honeysuckle project was launched in Newcastle in 1992, three years after the earthquake. The initial $100 million fund to support the conversion of disused railway land in the Newcastle CBD was enabled by the Keating ALP government's Better Cities program, which provided two-thirds of the funding, with the remaining amount and management of the development being provided by the NSW Fahey Liberal government. The City of Newcastle, under the leadership of lord mayor John McNaughton, also played a critical role in supporting the changes required locally to make this urban renewal project happen. As the Hunter-based federal senator, I joined a roundtable in Newcastle City Hall when this bipartisan intergovernmental agreement was signed off in 1992. We had high hopes that the conversion of 50 hectares of derelict CBD railway land on the harbour would be a game-changer for the renewal of the city centre. Politicians then stepped back, and NSW bureaucrats took over the Honeysuckle project approvals process. Now, 33 years later, it's crucial to ask: has the Honeysuckle project, which is nearing completion, lived up to our initial high expectations? Regrettably, many of the planned green spaces have not materialised. The potential for the impressive 1988 Bicentennial Newcastle Foreshore greenspace project to extend down the harbour as far as Wickham was lost when apartment and hotel developments were approved on Honeysuckle land, encroaching on the harbour's edge. Near the restored former railway workshops, a very imaginative plan for a small boat harbour inlet was also scrapped. Initially, a mix of commercial and residential buildings was envisioned, but apart from notable exceptions such as NIB and Hunter Water, and a scattering of small businesses, Honeysuckle now predominantly has a concrete canyon of apartment buildings, all about the same height, for its entire length. There is, however, one last chance to offset some of this urban planning disaster. Next to the Interchange, on the western edge of the Honeysuckle land, are two remaining large parcels of undeveloped land west of Cottage Creek. The current plan is to create a 'gateway' to the CBD with even more intensive urban development, including additional apartments. This plan should be scrapped. The last thing Newcastle City needs is an extension of the current concrete canyon along Honeysuckle Drive. A much better gateway to the city would be open parkland, stretching from the Interchange to the harbour foreshore. This would provide an additional green space for the city, where it is needed most. This land is currently a car park by default. However, converted to parkland, it would provide critically needed open green space for the series of tower apartment buildings, some over 20 storeys, that have been built or are now under construction on nearby land in Newcastle West. I think this new park should be called Henry Lawson Park. It has only one small historic building, the forlorn and partially restored Wickham School of Arts. It was here that a teenage Lawson, who worked nearby, attended adult education classes in the evening in the 1890s - presumably to improve his English! Herald columnist Bradley Perrett called for the creation of a park in the city to rival Sydney's grand Hyde Park (Herald, 20/6). He suggested Lambton Park for extensive modification, and others have suggested Gregson Park, in Hamilton. There were objections published in the Herald to these locations because many families are keen to keep using the park facilities that had been developed and extensively used over many years. However, the proposed park space in Wickham at the end of Honeysuckle Drive is a blank canvas, and Perrett's idea of creating an impressive parkland to rival Sydney's Hyde Park would be well placed there, as a gateway to the CBD between the Interchange and the harbour. An additional lung for Newcastle in its most densely populated area should be the highest priority for the final stage of the Honeysuckle development.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
John Hunter only admitting patients with 'threat of limb or life loss'
Surgeons at John Hunter Hospital have been told to admit patients only with "threat of limb or life loss" amid an extreme bed shortage. Hospital management sent surgeons a message on Monday afternoon that said "John Hunter Hospital is going into the evening with minus 37 beds". The message, titled "extreme bed compromise", said "we are on life and limb". "This means any acceptance of patients into John Hunter Hospital must be via surgeons (not registrars) and must be for patients who have threat of limb loss or life loss," it said. "Please continue to ... identify all patients who can be discharged home or to HITH [Hospital in the Home]." This followed patients waiting up to four hours when arriving by ambulance to John Hunter at the weekend. The waits coincided with high presentations and admissions to hospitals across the state for influenza-like illness. "It's been pretty bad in the last 28 to 48 hours," said Brendan McIlveen, a Newcastle-based paramedic. Mr McIlveen, the Australian Paramedics Association NSW secretary, said "this is probably the worst it's been in a long while". More than 10 ambulances were seen lined up at the John Hunter on Sunday. One hospital staffer told the Newcastle Herald there were "40 patients in overflow". "The cardiac catheterisation laboratory and endoscopy recovery have been used for overflow patients. "Patients are waiting excessively because we don't have anywhere to see them. We have no movement of patients. "Staff feel overwhelmed and fearful that something will go wrong. They get scared that someone will die." The staffer said the hospital executive "refused to call a code yellow" on Sunday. "This would mean they recognise we have an internal emergency." In this scenario, moves could be made to ease pressure on the hospital. A Hunter New England Health spokesperson said on Monday: "John Hunter Hospital is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients, including a significant number of seriously unwell patients". "In response to demand and to alleviate pressure in the ED, we are activating surge areas to temporarily increase our capacity as required. "During periods of high activity, we monitor inter-hospital transfer requests and prioritise the most unwell patients." Mr McIlveen said the patients brought to the hospital by ambulance on Sunday were "genuine cases". "It's not as though they could see a GP or be referred to an urgent care centre," he said. "It's flu season, so there were a number of unwell people on Sunday." He added that "trauma happens during weekend sports". "John Hunter does take all the trauma. It flows well, considering the number of ambulances and patients presenting in the waiting room as well," Mr McIlveen said. "It does show how well the nurses and doctors do to see as many patients as they do. They were doing everything they possibly could." But as the workload increases, so do delays at the hospital. "This does put a burden on the response available for the community," Mr McIlveen said. "The warmer weather will probably start again soon so that will hopefully settle all the respiratory cases down a bit." The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report showed "influenza activity is still at a high level", but cases among children had fallen during the school holidays. "COVID is at a moderate level of activity and decreasing. RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] activity is decreasing and at a moderate level," the report said. ED presentations and admissions for bronchiolitis in young children were high, particularly in those aged less than one, but they were decreasing. While another month of winter lies ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average days and nights in south-eastern Australia from August to October. The bureau said there was an "increased chance of unusually high overnight temperatures". Surgeons at John Hunter Hospital have been told to admit patients only with "threat of limb or life loss" amid an extreme bed shortage. Hospital management sent surgeons a message on Monday afternoon that said "John Hunter Hospital is going into the evening with minus 37 beds". The message, titled "extreme bed compromise", said "we are on life and limb". "This means any acceptance of patients into John Hunter Hospital must be via surgeons (not registrars) and must be for patients who have threat of limb loss or life loss," it said. "Please continue to ... identify all patients who can be discharged home or to HITH [Hospital in the Home]." This followed patients waiting up to four hours when arriving by ambulance to John Hunter at the weekend. The waits coincided with high presentations and admissions to hospitals across the state for influenza-like illness. "It's been pretty bad in the last 28 to 48 hours," said Brendan McIlveen, a Newcastle-based paramedic. Mr McIlveen, the Australian Paramedics Association NSW secretary, said "this is probably the worst it's been in a long while". More than 10 ambulances were seen lined up at the John Hunter on Sunday. One hospital staffer told the Newcastle Herald there were "40 patients in overflow". "The cardiac catheterisation laboratory and endoscopy recovery have been used for overflow patients. "Patients are waiting excessively because we don't have anywhere to see them. We have no movement of patients. "Staff feel overwhelmed and fearful that something will go wrong. They get scared that someone will die." The staffer said the hospital executive "refused to call a code yellow" on Sunday. "This would mean they recognise we have an internal emergency." In this scenario, moves could be made to ease pressure on the hospital. A Hunter New England Health spokesperson said on Monday: "John Hunter Hospital is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients, including a significant number of seriously unwell patients". "In response to demand and to alleviate pressure in the ED, we are activating surge areas to temporarily increase our capacity as required. "During periods of high activity, we monitor inter-hospital transfer requests and prioritise the most unwell patients." Mr McIlveen said the patients brought to the hospital by ambulance on Sunday were "genuine cases". "It's not as though they could see a GP or be referred to an urgent care centre," he said. "It's flu season, so there were a number of unwell people on Sunday." He added that "trauma happens during weekend sports". "John Hunter does take all the trauma. It flows well, considering the number of ambulances and patients presenting in the waiting room as well," Mr McIlveen said. "It does show how well the nurses and doctors do to see as many patients as they do. They were doing everything they possibly could." But as the workload increases, so do delays at the hospital. "This does put a burden on the response available for the community," Mr McIlveen said. "The warmer weather will probably start again soon so that will hopefully settle all the respiratory cases down a bit." The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report showed "influenza activity is still at a high level", but cases among children had fallen during the school holidays. "COVID is at a moderate level of activity and decreasing. RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] activity is decreasing and at a moderate level," the report said. ED presentations and admissions for bronchiolitis in young children were high, particularly in those aged less than one, but they were decreasing. While another month of winter lies ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average days and nights in south-eastern Australia from August to October. The bureau said there was an "increased chance of unusually high overnight temperatures". Surgeons at John Hunter Hospital have been told to admit patients only with "threat of limb or life loss" amid an extreme bed shortage. Hospital management sent surgeons a message on Monday afternoon that said "John Hunter Hospital is going into the evening with minus 37 beds". The message, titled "extreme bed compromise", said "we are on life and limb". "This means any acceptance of patients into John Hunter Hospital must be via surgeons (not registrars) and must be for patients who have threat of limb loss or life loss," it said. "Please continue to ... identify all patients who can be discharged home or to HITH [Hospital in the Home]." This followed patients waiting up to four hours when arriving by ambulance to John Hunter at the weekend. The waits coincided with high presentations and admissions to hospitals across the state for influenza-like illness. "It's been pretty bad in the last 28 to 48 hours," said Brendan McIlveen, a Newcastle-based paramedic. Mr McIlveen, the Australian Paramedics Association NSW secretary, said "this is probably the worst it's been in a long while". More than 10 ambulances were seen lined up at the John Hunter on Sunday. One hospital staffer told the Newcastle Herald there were "40 patients in overflow". "The cardiac catheterisation laboratory and endoscopy recovery have been used for overflow patients. "Patients are waiting excessively because we don't have anywhere to see them. We have no movement of patients. "Staff feel overwhelmed and fearful that something will go wrong. They get scared that someone will die." The staffer said the hospital executive "refused to call a code yellow" on Sunday. "This would mean they recognise we have an internal emergency." In this scenario, moves could be made to ease pressure on the hospital. A Hunter New England Health spokesperson said on Monday: "John Hunter Hospital is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients, including a significant number of seriously unwell patients". "In response to demand and to alleviate pressure in the ED, we are activating surge areas to temporarily increase our capacity as required. "During periods of high activity, we monitor inter-hospital transfer requests and prioritise the most unwell patients." Mr McIlveen said the patients brought to the hospital by ambulance on Sunday were "genuine cases". "It's not as though they could see a GP or be referred to an urgent care centre," he said. "It's flu season, so there were a number of unwell people on Sunday." He added that "trauma happens during weekend sports". "John Hunter does take all the trauma. It flows well, considering the number of ambulances and patients presenting in the waiting room as well," Mr McIlveen said. "It does show how well the nurses and doctors do to see as many patients as they do. They were doing everything they possibly could." But as the workload increases, so do delays at the hospital. "This does put a burden on the response available for the community," Mr McIlveen said. "The warmer weather will probably start again soon so that will hopefully settle all the respiratory cases down a bit." The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report showed "influenza activity is still at a high level", but cases among children had fallen during the school holidays. "COVID is at a moderate level of activity and decreasing. RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] activity is decreasing and at a moderate level," the report said. ED presentations and admissions for bronchiolitis in young children were high, particularly in those aged less than one, but they were decreasing. While another month of winter lies ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average days and nights in south-eastern Australia from August to October. The bureau said there was an "increased chance of unusually high overnight temperatures". Surgeons at John Hunter Hospital have been told to admit patients only with "threat of limb or life loss" amid an extreme bed shortage. Hospital management sent surgeons a message on Monday afternoon that said "John Hunter Hospital is going into the evening with minus 37 beds". The message, titled "extreme bed compromise", said "we are on life and limb". "This means any acceptance of patients into John Hunter Hospital must be via surgeons (not registrars) and must be for patients who have threat of limb loss or life loss," it said. "Please continue to ... identify all patients who can be discharged home or to HITH [Hospital in the Home]." This followed patients waiting up to four hours when arriving by ambulance to John Hunter at the weekend. The waits coincided with high presentations and admissions to hospitals across the state for influenza-like illness. "It's been pretty bad in the last 28 to 48 hours," said Brendan McIlveen, a Newcastle-based paramedic. Mr McIlveen, the Australian Paramedics Association NSW secretary, said "this is probably the worst it's been in a long while". More than 10 ambulances were seen lined up at the John Hunter on Sunday. One hospital staffer told the Newcastle Herald there were "40 patients in overflow". "The cardiac catheterisation laboratory and endoscopy recovery have been used for overflow patients. "Patients are waiting excessively because we don't have anywhere to see them. We have no movement of patients. "Staff feel overwhelmed and fearful that something will go wrong. They get scared that someone will die." The staffer said the hospital executive "refused to call a code yellow" on Sunday. "This would mean they recognise we have an internal emergency." In this scenario, moves could be made to ease pressure on the hospital. A Hunter New England Health spokesperson said on Monday: "John Hunter Hospital is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients, including a significant number of seriously unwell patients". "In response to demand and to alleviate pressure in the ED, we are activating surge areas to temporarily increase our capacity as required. "During periods of high activity, we monitor inter-hospital transfer requests and prioritise the most unwell patients." Mr McIlveen said the patients brought to the hospital by ambulance on Sunday were "genuine cases". "It's not as though they could see a GP or be referred to an urgent care centre," he said. "It's flu season, so there were a number of unwell people on Sunday." He added that "trauma happens during weekend sports". "John Hunter does take all the trauma. It flows well, considering the number of ambulances and patients presenting in the waiting room as well," Mr McIlveen said. "It does show how well the nurses and doctors do to see as many patients as they do. They were doing everything they possibly could." But as the workload increases, so do delays at the hospital. "This does put a burden on the response available for the community," Mr McIlveen said. "The warmer weather will probably start again soon so that will hopefully settle all the respiratory cases down a bit." The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report showed "influenza activity is still at a high level", but cases among children had fallen during the school holidays. "COVID is at a moderate level of activity and decreasing. RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] activity is decreasing and at a moderate level," the report said. ED presentations and admissions for bronchiolitis in young children were high, particularly in those aged less than one, but they were decreasing. While another month of winter lies ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average days and nights in south-eastern Australia from August to October. The bureau said there was an "increased chance of unusually high overnight temperatures".
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Unique Templestowe house above 8m void hits market for $1m
A Templestowe house that soars above an about 8m-high drop has Melbourne homebuyers polarised. With a $1m-$1.1m asking price it's just a fraction of the $1.65m buyers typically pay for a perch in the suburb. But its unusual design, that leaves a significant portion of the residence and its balcony hovering above a towering void, has buyers asking if 'it's safe and secure'. Built by its owner architect in the 1990s and balanced on the bricks and mortar of its lower-ground garage and a series of Karri timber stilts, the 39 Lawanna Drive home is being sold for the first time since its construction. And Jellis Craig Doncaster's Chris Savvides said its vertigo-inducing views were the central focus for buyers, and its unusual design was the reason behind its bargain price tag — confirming the reserve would be within the quoted range on auction day next month. So far it's had 'strong interest' with 45 groups through its first open for inspection on Saturday — mostly a mix of inner-city professionals aged from their late 20s to 40s. While it wasn't for everyone, Mr Savvides said those who did like it were taking a very close look at the unusual residence. 'I've never seen anything like this, there's no comparisons … but people are intrigued by it,' Mr Savvides said. 'The view is amazing, but people are saying they're not sure (about how it achieves the view). 'And It's nor for young kids, or the elderly.' The agent said he's getting a lot of questions about whether 'it's safe and secure'. And is referring those questions to the vendors more than $120,000 effort to refit and renew the home's incredible rear balcony. The home has also stood in place since the early 90s, with its architect builder buying it as a steeply sloping block of land for just $88,300 in 1988 — then building the eye-catching residence. It's still standing after a number of earthquakes, one as nearby as Sunbury in 2023, as well as countless storms that have followed its construction. Mr Savvides said braver buyers in sturdy footwear had been walking down to the bottom of the block to get a feel for the mammoth height the home stands above ground — estimated to be around 8m and close to twice the height of the main residence. The previous owners very much embraced the height, with the living area and even the main bedroom both positioned to make the most of the views. Mr Savvides said the next owners were also likely to be looking at ways to fill in some of the negative space beneath the house — though the existing lower-ground level would already suit for conversion to a unit, home office or as is for a car enthusiast. The 966sq m property is slated for auction at 2pm on August 16.
