Few would argue that a good way of spending tax dollars would be to ensure all hospitals are properly airconditioned.

Patients in hospitals are usually enduring some kind of suffering. They don't need any extra suffering to be unnecessarily added to their ordeal.

Abbie Kearney's story in Tuesday's Newcastle Herald is a case in point.

Her stay in John Hunter Hospital to receive treatment for a fractured pelvis was worsened when she was stuck in a room without adequate airconditioning.

Her mother Maria Kearney asked for a fan, but was told none were available. A nursing staffer told her to go to Bunnings and buy one. This is completely unacceptable. Hunter New England Health apologised unreservedly "if this has occurred".

The organisation also apologised "if the airconditioning was not at the appropriate level in one of the wards".

Many people will be glad that the organisation has the fortitude to say sorry. In this instance, it's the least they can do.

What they should also do is take action to ensure this kind of thing doesn't keep happening.

The public also deserves a clear explanation about how incidents like this can occur at the John Hunter.

If the airconditioning was broken, that'd be one thing. But if it simply doesn't work properly, then the question is why? And will action be taken to fix it?

Anger about the Bunnings fan incident should be somewhat tempered by the hectic and stressful nature of hospitals, which are sometimes understaffed.

Staff can be overworked, patients can be trying, nerves can fray.

But some will argue that none of these things are a valid excuse for a lack of proper airconditioning. For it is surely the job of senior hospital staff to ensure airconditioning is working well.

If there are reasons why certain parts of the hospital have better airconditioning than others, Hunter New England Health should say so. It should also provide more information about how it proposes to fix this problem. The public shouldn't have to wait until next summer for answers.

Otherwise, the organisation's apologies will be dismissed as a load of hot air.

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