New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park has warned people to take Sydney's heat wave seriously after eight Sydneysiders were hospitalised with heat exhaustion.

New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park has warned people to take Sydney's heat wave seriously after eight Sydneysiders were hospitalised with heat exhaustion.

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Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard

'Be sensible' - NSW Health Minister's message ahead of extreme heat wave

Missed the show? Catch up with the full show podcast with Trent Nikolic.

Summer Drive with Trent Nikolic - Wednesday, 14 January 2026

Ten years ago, the Sydney Morning Herald issued a stark warning… a 'tsunami' of ageing patients was heading for the NSW health system. 

Well, it’s 2026, and according to health officials, that wave has officially crashed. Our hospitals are under unprecedented pressure, with over 1,200 beds a night taken up by patients who are ready to leave but have nowhere to go…

But what if the solutions have been sitting right in front of us for a decade? Back in 2016, our guest today tried to bridge that gap with a 'transit lounge' for patients—an idea that worked, but was ultimately tied up in red tape. 

Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Director at Wound Care Clinic Melissa Freeman joined us to speak more about it. 

Ten years ago, the Sydney Morning Herald issued a stark warning&hellip; a 'tsunami' of ageing patients was heading for the NSW health system.&nbsp;
Well, it&rsquo;s 2026, and according to health officials, that wave has officially crashed. Our hospitals are under unprecedented pressure, with over 1,200 beds a night taken up by patients who are ready to leave but have nowhere to go&hellip;
But what if the solutions have been sitting right in front of us for a decade? Back in 2016, our guest today tried to bridge that gap with a 'transit lounge' for patients&mdash;an idea that worked, but was ultimately tied up in red tape.&nbsp;
Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Director at Wound Care Clinic Melissa Freeman joined us to speak more about it.&nbsp;

'It's extremely frustrating' - Nurse Mel Freeman on healthcare concerns raised a decade ago

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson joined Sydney Now to speak about why her party opposes the federal government's hate speech bill. 

 

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson joined Sydney Now to speak about why her party opposes the federal government's hate speech bill.&nbsp;
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'Be sensible' - NSW Health Minister's message ahead of extreme heat wave

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