Patient beaten to death at Shellharbour hospital

A patient has been charged with murder after the death of a one of his fellow patients at a hospital on the New South Wales south coast this morning.

Doctors at the Shellharbour facility failed to revive the victim after a staff member discovered the 47-year-old man with head injuries shortly before 8am.

Police believe the 31-year-old accused struck the older man in the head with an electric guitar during a dispute.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District chief Sue Browbank could not confirm the identity of the deceased, but said it was her priority to make sure the investigation took place as quickly as possible.

He was refused bail, and will appear before Port Kembla Local Court tomorrow.