In the past 18 months, there have been 72 hours without "on-site medical coverage" at Tenterfield District Hospital in northern New South Wales.
Hunter New England Local Health District has confirmed patients at Tenterfield Hospital have at times had to rely on telehealth services, because there has been no doctor on site.
It followed a call by the Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin for an independent inquiry into staffing at the hospital, amid claims of a serious shortfall, including the current lack of a doctor.
In a statement, the health district's executive director, Susan Heyman, said that, in the 18 months to June 2021, there were 72 hours where the hospital had no "on-site medical coverage".
She said 72 hours was equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the hospital's total operating time in that period.
Disagreement over nursing numbers
Ms Saffin had also claimed 18 nurses had left the hospital in the past 18 months, but the health district said the correct figure was nine.
Ms Heyman said that figure included "three who retired, and two who relocated to other towns for personal reasons".
The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has argued that pleas for increased staff had fallen on deaf ears because, they claimed, management was reluctant to staff hypothetical emergency scenarios.
However, Ms Heyman said the health district does increase staffing where required, and regularly monitors staff workloads.
Ms Saffin's call for an inquiry has been backed by the Tenterfield Shire Council.
Mayor Peter Petty said that, while the council had a good relationship with the health district, it was important for any review to be conducted independent of hospital management.
"We feel, by having this inquiry, that will resolve a few issues there, and we'll get on with having a good health system," Cr Petty said.
"We have a very good facility there, it's just concerning that the staff don't seem to stay long."
