Government suspends Ivy’s in-house team of doctors and nurses

NSW Health has been ordered to conduct a review into a team of doctors and nurses located on site at the Ivy precinct in Sydney’s CBD, run by hospitality giant Merivale.

Ivy is Sydney CBD’s biggest licenced venue.

An “in-house” medical service being run by the Sydney CBD’s biggest licenced venue has been suspended by the government.

NSW Health has been ordered to conduct a review into a team of doctors and nurses located on site at the Ivy precinct on George St, run by hospitality giant Merivale.

The review has been ordered amid reports of injured patients being pushed around the venue in wheelchairs.

There are also concerns the in-house medical team’s existence could mean details of alcohol-fuelled violence and intoxication may not be reaching authorities.

There is no suggestion Merivale, headed by Justin Hemmes, is actively withholding information from police. Authorities use this information to impose strict licensing requirements on venues.

Good times at the Ivy in central Sydney, where it has been revealed an in-house medical team has been operating.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said they are “aware that some venues have medical staff on hand to provide medical support services”.

“Last week, NSW Police and Liquor and Gaming NSW met with management during which time it was agreed that some of the medical arrangements be suspended pending an assessment,” she said.

Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes. Picture: Getty Images

A Merivale spokesman said: “For the past seven years, Merivale has included in its operating procedures at Ivy that during its peak trading periods, specialist medical and paramedical personnel are onsite to provide initial assessment and treatment of any illnesses or injuries while ambulance support, if required, is on it’s way to the venue.

“It does not in any way replace or change our reporting of any incidents or access to care via the NSW health system – it is designed to provide immediate support to our patrons while we report and call for assistance.

“For the entire seven-year period that this has been part of Ivy’s operating procedures, we have used the same highly reputable medical services provider, and the NSW Police have had full knowledge of the service and there have been no issues raised with it — in fact it has been seen as a very valuable part of our duty of care to our patrons.

“We are currently conducting a review of how the medical assistance service is performing as part of our operating procedures at Ivy which involves feedback from our key stakeholders including NSW Police, NSW Health and NSW Liquor and Gaming.”

Police patrol the venue every week as part of their licence enforcement duties under Operation Barbar.

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