Questions were raised during the week after a 48-year-old man was bitten by the snake while working in his backyard shed on Saturday. 

But, with no anti-venom available in town, he was conveyed to Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone for further assistance.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service then flew the local resident to its base in Broadmeadow, before being transported to the Calvary Mater Hospital.

The storage of snake anti-venom in NSW hospitals is guided by the NSW Health Snakebite and Spiderbite Clinical Management Guidelines.

“These guidelines indicate that all NSW hospitals should store at least one vial of brown snake anti-venom and one vial of tiger snake anti-venom, which is the case at Muswellbrook Hospital,” a Hunter New England Health spokesperson said.

“Death adder bites are treated with polyvalent anti-venom, which is used for a range of Australian snake bites.

“Due to its infrequent use and relatively short shelf life, NSW Health does not recommend polyvalent anti-venom be stored in every hospital.

“The NSW Health guidelines indicate one vial of polyvalent anti-venom should be kept in larger regional and referral hospitals.

“Retrieval services also have access to polyvalent venom.

“In the Hunter region, polyvalent anti-venom is stored at Scott Memorial Hospital, the John Hunter Hospital and the Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle.”

Clinical toxicologist Professor Geoff Isbister, of the Calvary Mater Newcastle, admitted treatment with polyvalent anti-venom in the area was uncommon. 

“It has been administered only twice in the past decade,” he said.

“Once, for a taipan bite and for the death adder bite last weekend.

“Death adder bites are also very rare.

“The case dealt with on the weekend is the only one across the district that I can recall in the past 10-to-15 years.”

Earlier this month, locals were warned to stay alert with snakes becoming more active and visible in public spaces.

“As snakes’ natural habitat is cleared or damaged we are more likely to encounter snakes in our own properties or workplaces,” Muswellbrook Shire Council’s sustainability officer Nelson Burand-Hicks said.

“Please remember that snakes are generally timid and prefer to retreat than to attack.

“In fact, the vast majority of snake bites occur when humans either provoke the snake or are blocking their escape route.

“So, if you leave them alone, you rarely have need for concern.”

Mr Burand-Hicks said all native snakes in NSW were protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

“They play an important role in functioning ecosystems,” he said.

“The fact that predators like snakes are present means that the lower levels of the food chain are functioning well and can support top-level predators.”

If you do have a snake on your property that requires relocation, phone Wildlife Aid on 0429 850 089.