The committee wrote to HNELHD chief executive officer Michael DiRienzo on April 14 to express its wish to see a public-private partnership agreement developed with HNELHD and Mayo Private Hospital.

Committee chair Don Macinnis OAM advises Mr DiRienzo that "with an increasing number of cardiac incidents being reported ... that the provision of an early intervention service may prove beneficial for those requiring early treatment plus the removal of travel for patient and families to John Hunter Hospital."

According to Mr Macinnis, recent discussions with Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council chair, Dr Murray Hyde Page, Mayo Private Hospital chief executive officer, Peter Johnson, Greater Taree City Council mayor, Paul Hogan and local residents encouraged the committee to "continue to seek some progress in this matter."

"Our committee realise that a comprehensive cardiac cath lab may be provided when the proposed hospital development plan eventuates. We feel that the provision of some service would be appreciated by cardiac patients and families in the interim," Mr Macinnis said.

The committee provided a copy of its correspondence to Dr Hyde Page, Mr Johnson, Cr Hogan as well as Dr David Keegan and HNELHD Board chair Associate Professor Lyn Fragar OA.

The committee will meet today (Friday) and the proposed public-private partnership agreement will be on the agenda for discussion.

Earlier this year, Mr Macinnis flagged a change in the committee culture when he spoke to the issue of Manning Hospital infrastructure funding.

"This local health committee was set-up as an advisory group about five or six years ago and we sort of sat on the sidelines, not to sure of where our role fitted in and it's developed over recent time," Mr Macinnis said.

"Because of frustrations and all sorts of issues, we have started to campaign to be more than advisory, to be more hands-on with decision making.

"We want a stronger voice," he added.