The WA health minister has denied claims of air quality concerns at the new Perth Children's Hospital site, as he expressed frustration over the delayed project and could not guarantee it would open in the next six months.
The hospital is already more than one year overdue and has been plagued with problems, including lead contamination in drinking water and the installation of roof panels containing asbestos.
Health Minister John Day on Wednesday dismissed the latest claims of an air quality issue, but conceded work had been done to reduce noise coming from the air-conditioning.
"There's no problem with the air quality around the operating theatres," he told reporters.
"There was an issue with the acoustics with the air-conditioning in the operating theatre suites - there needed to be a reduction in the noise - and that work has been completed."
Mr Day admitted it was frustrating and disappointing that the facility was not yet ready for patients.
"This is not embarrassing for the government but it is extremely frustrating for the government because we have committed on behalf of taxpayers $1.2 billion to build this world class new children's hospital for the state - it has taken far too long," he said.
Mr Day said the state government was in the hands of the managing contractor, John Holland, but he hoped it was getting closer to providing a definite date for when the hospital would be ready.
He said if it was not open in the first six months of 2017 he would be even more disappointed.
"I think that is almost certain to occur but I'm not going to absolutely guarantee anything about this particular project, apart from the fact it will only open when it is safe and appropriate to do so," he said.
