The owner of one damaged car wants the hospital to cover the repair bill – but hospital management doesn’t accept any blame.

“Without any admission of liability we will ask [the car owner] to forward us the repair quote,” hospital CEO Brett Dennert said.

The patient drove into the car park last Saturday for a specialist’s appointment.

She drove off the sealed car park that is often full and down a gravel slope lined with traffic management bollards.

At the bottom of the slope the driver encountered a rut that had been opened from the heavy rain over Easter.

The Peugeot’s front bumper scraped the ground and partially dislodged some plastic trim which included the wheel-well lining.

The cost of the damage has not yet been established but the driver’s husband has provided the hospital with a written account of the event.

The statement notes that another motorist stopped to help remove the plastic trim but noted that a loud clunk remained in the front suspension after.

The patient’s husband collected the car and reported the incident.

Mr Brown, who did not want his first name published for privacy reasons, said his wife had no option but to drive through the rut.

“If they are diverting people down there you’re committed to going over the rut,” he said.

“You can’t reverse with someone behind you and there’s no space to do a U-turn.”

The hospital has placed additional bollards and bunting around the hazard since the complaint.

Work will continue on the new ward at the hospital for another two months.

Meanwhile, a free shuttle bus is in operation between the hospital and Marcellin Park at Lorn.

The temporary car park belongs to Maitland City Council and is on loan to the hospital, which had agreed to maintain it.

Mr Dennert said the car park was closed on Friday and graded on Saturday when fewer patients used the facilties.

“It’s been two years without incident and we’ve just had two in five days,” Mr Dennert said.

“We’ve ordered signage which, we’re expecting to have by today.”