The NSW Opposition says flaws in a new $98 million hospital in the state's central west are symptomatic of wider problems in the health system.
Elective surgery has been suspended at the new Bathurst hospital with surgeons concerned serious design and construction flaws are putting lives at risk.
The faults include a pipe leaking raw sewage into the maternity ward an inadequate alarm system and major pager and mobile phone failures.
The Health Department has now been forced to halt the demolition of the old hospital in case it's still needed.
Barry O'Farrell has told Fairfax the Premier and Health Minister should never have given the construction the go-ahead without knowing whether frontline clinicians had been consulted on the rebuild.
Earlier
A new $98 million hospital in NSW's central west has been labelled unsafe and surgeons have indefinitely suspended routine elective surgery saying lives are at risk.
Fairfax Media report the flaws at the new Bathurst hospital include a pipe leaking raw sewage into the maternity ward an inadequate alarm system and major pager and mobile phone failures.
Medical Staff Council chairman Chris Halloway says the hospital which opened three weeks ago is unsafe.
Fairfax say the problems have forced the Health Department to halt demolition of the old hospital.
Other flaws include hanging points and access to sheer drops outside the mental health unit which remains empty.
Fairfax report NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher has sought urgent advice from the area health service about the issues with a spokeswoman saying the number of issues with a brand new hospital is unacceptable.
It's the latest in a list of hospital blunders that have prompted Ms Meagher to call a Special Commission of Inquiry into acute care services in the state which began last week.