The service was responding to comments made by Upper Hunter independent candidate Lee Watts who suggested nurses at the hospital were concerned about the future of the facility if a proposed new privately-owned aged care centre is built in Gloucester.

“A new aged care home in Gloucester could be great, but local nurses have raised some serious concerns about what could happen to the local hospital and they want me to tell the local community,” Mrs Watts said during election campaigning last week.

“Our nurses are concerned that many local people may not be able to afford a private nursing home and are keen to retain aged care beds at the local hospital, so that everyone in the community can have proper care.

“They have also told me they are worried the local hospital will be stripped back, that the government will cut acute care beds and the second operating theatre they have been promised may never happen.”

“They have said Gloucester needs a 24/7 hospital so they can provide immediate care to local children, miners, loggers and farmers who often need proper emergency care quickly and can’t wait to be transferred to Taree.”

But hospital manager Paul Townsend said the fears were unwarranted and services would not be affected once a new aged care facility opened.

“There are no plans to change acute services, the operating hours of the hospital or the number of hospital beds,” he said.

“There are no immediate plans to reduce the number of hospital nurses. We are continuing to recruit to all vacant nursing positions, including those for acute care and aged care services.

“Long-term, once an aged care facility is built, options will be discussed with the aged care staff which include the opportunity to transfer their employment and their current entitlements to the new, non-government provider or to continue working with Hunter New England Health in a new role.”

Meanwhile, Ms Watts has reiterated that she will not be directing preferences to any political party at this Saturday’s election.