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A woman is in police custody as officers investigate the cutting of essential medical gases at two Sydney hospitals, in what the state's health minister has called "deliberate sabotage". NSW Police said a woman allegedly entered the hospital grounds of Sutherland Hospital in Caringbah about 12:20am and cut both the water and gas mains, before she turned on the fire hoses. Police said about an hour later a woman the went into a private hospital on the same street and switched off the gas supply. Health Minister Ryan Park said the public hospital had to rely on portable oxygen and air as part of its contingency plans. Just before 4:00am a 42-year-old woman was arrested at nearby Miranda for alleged breach of bail and was taken to Sutherland Police Station for questioning. A short time later police were alerted to the incidents at the hospitals. No charges have been laid. Damage 'could have been catastrophic' Mr Park said no patients were affected and gas services were restored by the Southern Sydney Local Health District within two hours. He said the woman climbed into a restricted part of Sutherland Hospital before cutting off medical gases relied upon by people experiencing serious illness. "To do this in any way, shape or form is to put the lives of some very seriously ill people at risk in a hospital. It's not a joke." NSW Health investigation under way The minister said NSW Health will investigate whether "anything could have been done differently". "Access to gas systems in NSW public hospitals is restricted," he said in a statement. "We will review the incident to see what improvements can be implemented." Police have not said whether the woman being questioned had a connection to the hospital.
