MANNING Hospital is included in the priority list for hospital developments in regional NSW, according to member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead.

This statement is challenged by Manning Health Committee chair Don Macinnis OAM and is the catalyst for a push for proof from Mr Bromhead that Manning Hospital is on the NSW government forward planning agenda for infrastructure funding.

This week Mr Macinnis looked to the 'NSW State Health Plan Towards 2021' for confirmation of Mr Bromhead's repeated claims "that money is coming" and said "there is no mention of Manning Hospital."

The State government released the 'NSW State Health Plan Towards 2021' in June last year and it revealed seven major investment projects for the next five years. Close to home on that list was the Kempsey Hospital redevelopment. It is set to "provide an expanded emergency department with a co-located emergency medical unit and culturally appropriate integrated community care centre."

The plan also detailed the "forward program" and specified "commencement of planning for capital works at Dubbo, Sutherland, St George, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Blacktown, Westmead, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Gosford, Wyong, Hornsby, and Lismore Base Hospitals" and stated that since 2011, "the NSW government has committed $4.7 billion to upgrading hospital infrastructure across the State, with $1.2 billion worth in 2013/17 alone."

The information shocked Mr Macinnis.

"When you look at this list, there is no mention of Manning Hospital!" Mr Macinnis said.

"We are not even on the honourable mention list for contemplation!"

"This plan is put out by the minister, it is a current document. This is the list and I now think the minister needs to get involved and tell us what is happening."

Mr Macinnis challenged the statement of Mr Bromhead that "Manning Base Hospital is included in the priority list for hospital developments in regional NSW."

"No. It's not true. This plan (NSW State Health Plan Towards 2021) is the list. I want him to go to the minister to seek assurances."

Mr Macinnis is dogged in his determination to see Manning Hospital secure funding and recently called for Mr Bromhead "to put his hand up for a new hospital. It is as simple as that" and cited "the biggest challenge to be addressed is to get our local member who specialises in sound bytes, press releases and photo opportunities to do something."

The catalyst for the damning assessment, according to Mr Macinnis, was the repeated claim by Mr Bromhead "that money is coming." Illustrating the point, Mr Macinnis cited a recent media release by Mr Bromhead which stated "it is very pleasing that the NSW 2014/15 Budget contained $50 million in the Restart NSW program for six regional hospitals from which Manning Base will receive $5 - $10 million to kick start the project." However, the release did not provide the exact funding figure or details of when monies would be provided to enable works to begin.

Mr Bromhead this week stated that "over the past four years there have been some significant advances to the hospital in terms of planning and additions to medical staff."

"These advances include writing the Clinical Services Plan and Master Building Plan which determined the hospital's future health needs of the Manning region," Mr Bromhead said.

"I pressed hard for these crucial documents to be written simultaneously as they are essential prerequisites to the continuing development of the hospital."

Mr Macinnis said "Mr Bromhead agreed there was a need for the plans" but stated that it was the Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council that "pressed hard" and worked to get the plans developed and approved by Hunter New England Health (HNE Health).

A report in The Manning River Times revealed that in May 2011 Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council chair, Dr Murray Hyde-Page described the hospital's situation as a "developing crisis" for the people of the Manning, Great Lakes and Gloucester.

"Dr Hyde-Page wrote a letter to Hunter New England Health requesting a meeting to discuss the need for a clinical services plan, and the three mayors at the time; Paul Hogan for Greater Taree, Jan McWilliams for Great Lakes and Geoff Slack from Gloucester Shire also wrote to endorse their support for a strategic plan. A meeting, which included the mayors, took place in December 2011 and HNELHD chief executive, Michael DiRienzo and staff and representatives from the office of member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott and member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead all agreed a clinical services plan needed to be developed."

It is now 2015 and Mr Macinnis contends "it's opportune that this has come at a time that's before an election, it should be an incentive for the minister to say something."

Money talks, according to Mr Macinnis, and he urges people to simply Google the names of other hospitals that were built around the same time as Manning Hospital.

"There are three or four hospitals that came virtually off the same plan as Manning Hospital - Bega, Wagga Wagga and Dubbo. Bega which was opened at virtually the same time, well in 2011 it got $160 million and their redevelopment is well underway; Wagga in 2007 got $282 million towards a redevelopment ... and Dubbo Base stage 1 and 2 in 2012 got $91 million, and stage 3 and 4 were announced on January 22 this month, they got another $150 million."

The Manning River Times this week contacted Mr Bromhead for the name of the priority list to which he referred in the media release and the document from which it was sourced.

In response, Mr Bromhead stated "Manning Base Hospital is included in the government's priorities for hospital developments in regional NSW."

He stated that it is "included in NSW Health's forward capital plan 2014/15 NSW Budget (Restart NSW)."

However in mid-January, Mr Bromhead revealed that the Restart NSW funding amount had not been "determined by the Treasurer, health minister and cabinet. This decision will be made available when Treasury advises my office."