Since a mid-year undertaking by the Government for an upgrade, little more had been said about 'how much' and 'when' - leading to widespread angst that the deal would either fall short or drop off entirely from the agenda.

But speaking on ABC Local radio today, Mr Stoner publicly committed that the hospital would get a "substantial" upgrade - with a firm commitment in this financial year and in the years ahead.

In his role as Deputy Premier - before his announcement that he would not contest the March State Election due to family reasons - he said he had established a special $50 million infrastructure fund for hospitals that were not on the current forward planning budget schedule of the Health Department. This, he said, included Macksville Hospital - a 60-year-old facility that medicos and local residents believe has fallen well behind operational standard.

Mr Stoner said the funding for Macksville would be delivered but there was a "process" that had to be followed.

He said the Health Department had to scope what work was required for the facility, and he understood that had been done and the submission was now before Treasury.

A formal announcement on the breadth of the upgrade at the hospital is now likely early in the New Year, especially now that the Nationals have preselected Melinda Pavey to stand for the seat of Oxley.