The opposition has passed a motion in Parliament that will force the government to release all documents related to a public-private partnership funding model and possible privatisation of the new hospital by November 6.

Opposition spokesman for health Walt Secord said the motion meant the government had to make public all departmental and Treasury documents related to plans to outsource, privatise or use the private sector to provide services at the new hospital.

“The community is worried about the Liberal Party's plans for the hospital,” he said.

“The Liberals also created the disastrous model of the private Port Macquarie Hospital, which had to be purchased by the state government.

“Furthermore, in the first week of becoming premier, Mike Baird said he wanted to see privatisation of hospital services.”

Health Minister Jillian Skinner has slammed Labor's move and said it was a political stunt.

But she did not comment on what the likely funding model would be for the hospital when the Mercury contacted her office yesterday.

“Labor has shown its contempt for the health system by replacing its health spokesman – a doctor – with a spin doctor,” Ms Skinner said.

“The NSW government has always said the new Maitland hospital will provide free public health care for public patients.”

Premier Mike Baird said in July that he expected the new facility in Metford would be completed within five years.

But no date has been announced for when the first sod will be turned at the site.

Opposition Leader John Robertson said the Maitland community had a right to know how the 

hospital would be funded before the government signed any contracts.

“We do not want to see the Americanisation of the Australian health system,” he said.

“The health system should be run for patients, not shareholders.”