By ELIZABETH LOOI

KUALA LUMPUR: It's barely a year into operations but already Ampang Hospital seems to be falling apart. 

The Star checked out the complaints received from the hospital's staff and patients and found that parts of the ceiling in the paediatric and general wards had collapsed and were not replaced. 

The ceiling in the paediatric ward was fungus ridden, while in the ward's pantry, water was seen dripping from the ceiling.  

Cardboard was laid over a large part of the floor of the doctors' lounge to caution people not to walk where the ceiling had previously collapsed. 

A staff member, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed that a chunk of ceiling had fallen on her colleague. 

"Although the hospital only opened last year, there are already problems with the building due to shoddy workmanship,"she said. 

Another claimed that the equipment in the hospital was dated.  

The hospital's director could not be reached for comment.  

Ampang Hospital was among the Government projects that faced various problems, including construction delays.  

The hospital, scheduled for completion in 2004, was only opened last year.