Wollongong Private Hospital issued fire safety order over combustible panels

A NSW hospital was fitted with the same type of combustible material that caused the Grenfell Tower tragedy in the UK, inspectors found.

A NSW hospital that was fitted with the same type of combustible material that caused the Grenfell Tower tragedy in the UK has been ordered by inspectors to take action.

Wollongong Private Hospital was slapped with a fire safety order three days before Christmas after government inspectors made the dangerous discovery.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said the hospital had been ordered to remove external wall panels that were made of aluminium composite.

Wollongong Private Hospital was ordered to fix the problem. Picture: Supplied

It's the same type of material that was identified as a contributing factor in the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 that killed 72 people.

The hospital was ordered to replace the material with a non-combustible product and provide a report to certify that the replacement panels comply with the Building Code of Australia.

The owners were also ordered to develop fire safety measures to reduce the fire risk while the panels are being removed.

The Grenfell Tower fire in London killed 72 people and put a spotlight on combustible cladding. Picture: Natalie Oxford / Natalie Oxford / AFP

Inspectors also discovered the same material installed in two University of NSW buildings during inspections in December, according to newly released DPIE reports.

The NSW government last year released an independent report that recommended four fire-safe alternative materials to high-risk cladding.

The then Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said at the time the government would start to remove dangerous cladding from buildings by the end of the year.

Wollongong Private Hospital has been contacted for comment.