In the hospital's C block, just three out of six lifts were working on Tuesday - and two of those were, understandably, reserved for patient care and support services.

But that left visitors and staff lined up for 15 minutes or more at a time waiting for the one working lift in the older part of the hospital near the Crown St entrance.

"My father's been in here for three weeks - one lift hasn't been working for a couple of weeks, another's been out for a couple of days," Ms Taylor said.

"I even got stuck in a lift with two other people for 40 minutes on Monday night and was told that another group of people got stuck previously.

"There's no signs, there's nothing to tell anyone what's going on, and when all lifts might be working again.

"It's just not acceptable."

Ms Taylor said while she could take the stairs if need be, it was not an option for many.

"You've got elderly people, people with limited mobility, parents with prams," she said.

"Part of my dad's recovery is to get up and about and I'd been taking him down to the coffee van - but that's not worth the risk now as I wouldn't want him stuck in the lift.

"You see millions of dollars being spent on other projects across the state, yet not on something as basic as people being able to visit their loved ones in hospital."

However Northern Illawarra Hospital Group general manager Nicole Sheppard said lift refurbishments were underway as part of the state government's $500 million Asset Refurbishment and Replacement Program.

"Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District apologises to the patients and visitors inconvenienced by issues with some of the public lifts at Wollongong Hospital (on Tuesday), and thanks them for their patience," she said.

"Three of the hospital's 18 public lifts were slowed by minor technical issues this morning. Two have been fixed and the last is expected to be up and running shortly.

"Wollongong Hospital undertakes regular refurbishments of lifts throughout the facility. Two lifts have had refurbishments completed and two are currently underway. Further refurbishment works will be carried out in coming weeks."

Ms Sheppard advised people to enter the hospital via the main Loftus Street entrance to ensure appropriate access to services and wards.

However Wollongong MP Paul Scully said problems with lifts at the hospital had been ongoing for years, and people were getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of action - and communication.

"Everyone appreciates the replacement of these lifts, however the frustrations for visitors, patients and staff are exacerbated by the frequency of the lifts breaking down," he said.

"If there was a bit more information communicated to people, and a plan to speed up the work, it might reduce some of that frustration.

"Some would argue that the situation is symptomatic of the last eight years of the current government and their timeliness in investing in Wollongong Hospital in a whole range of areas.

"That's why in the next budget we'd like to see the Berejiklian government ensure that the largest hospital; in the third largest city in NSW, is resourced to a level that meets people's expectations."