New hospital delayed again: SA Liberals

The new Royal Adelaide Hospital won't be handed over to the state government until August with developers missing their third deadline on Wednesday, the South Australian opposition says.

Technical completion of the $2 billion project was first scheduled for January 19 this year, then April 4 and finally May 25.

But opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade says sources have informed him the government won't now get the keys until August, meaning the hospital is unlikely to admit its first patient until the new year.

"Today the state government has missed the date for technical completion of the new RAH for the third time," Mr Wade said.

"After years of spin, the (health) minister needs to get reliable information and be straight with South Australians."

Several weeks ago Health Minister Jack Snelling issued the developers with a major default notice, putting pressure on them to come up with a firm date for handover of the facility.

He told parliament last week that he would not release a new completion date until he was provided with one he had confidence in.

However, he refused to concede the ongoing delays would mean the hospital could not begin operating before the new year.

Mr Wade said the new RAH was now $640 million over budget, more than four months behind schedule and unlikely to admit its first patient until next year.