The opening of the new $2 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital being built at the Kawana Health Precinct will be delayed until April next year to ensure the commissioning problems experienced at other major hospitals such as Lady Cilento Children's and Fiona Stanley hospitals are not repeated.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kevin Hegarty said the decision was consistent with the advice of an independent commissioning adviser appointed last year and will ensure a safe and clinically robust commissioning process.