A Labor MP and unions have called for an independent inquiry into staffing shortfalls at a northern New South Wales hospital, where they say there is currently no doctor on duty.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has sought a meeting with the NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, to discuss the situation at Tenterfield Hospital.
A NSW Parliament inquiry is currently underway into the state of rural and regional healthcare, but its hearing in Lismore did not include specific discussion of Tenterfield.
Ms Saffin said a year of monthly meetings with unions and hospital management have failed to make any progress.
"There's a problem, the community sees it and we need to fix it," she said.
"We want to know there will be a doctor or two on call when we need them."
A date for Ms Saffin's meeting with the Minister has yet to be confirmed.
Nurses in short supply
Ms Saffin said up to 18 nurses have resigned from positions at Tenterfield Hospital in the last 18 months.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association organiser, Nola Scilinato, said pleas for more nursing staff have not been taken up, because it was hard to justify staffing a hypothetical scenario.
Ms Scilinato said the staffing shortfall has created an incentive for more nurses to leave.
"They fear that they'll be on a shift when there's insufficient staff and there's a bad outcome," she said.
"I've worked as an organiser at the nurses' union for 17 years and I have never seen the morale so low."
The ABC has contacted the Hunter New England Local Health District for comment.
