A critical incident has been launched after a man fell from an elevated driveway at a hospital in Newcastle last night.

About 11.30pm (Monday 18 July 2016), police escorted a 30-year-old man to Mater Hospital, Newcastle, to seek medical assistance.

While at the hospital it is alleged the man ran through an open security door. He was seen to jump over a railing and landed on the concrete below, sustaining head and internal injuries.

The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital and remains in a critical condition.

A Critical Incident Team from Lake Macquarie will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

That investigation will be subject to independent review.