The increase comes after a review into the security of the hospital by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and more than a year of calls for an increase to staff numbers at the hospital by the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association.

Previously the department was covered by two registered nurses for eight hours a day without an on-call doctor, often leaving the nurses in the department in isolation for the remaining 16 hours per day.

Leeton Shire mayor Paul Maytom said the decision will ease the burden on current staff at the hospital.

"After many years of knocking our heads against the big wall, we are finally moving forward," Councillor Maytom said.

"It's exceptionally good news and it is going to give a lot of relief to the visiting medical officers."

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Cr Maytom said a new nurse practitioner will work for 10 hour shifts and will be able to treat category four and five incidents, liaising with the visiting medical officer on call to ensure care will be provided for 24 hours a day at the emergency department.

He said he intends to meet with the MLHD hospital cluster manager to further discuss what changes the new model will make and a timetable for its implementation.

Leeton Hospital manager Amanda Culpan said she is excited to have more staff on board at the hospital.

"I am very excited to add a Nurse Practitioner to the Health Care team at Leeton," Ms Culpan said.

"A nurse practitioner on the team will provide patients with improved access to care and treatment.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the Leeton community to improve the health care options available to them within the town."

Along with an extra nurse practitioner role, the hospital will also see an increase in the amount of visiting medical officers on the roster, with an additional general practitioner signing up for a visiting medical officer position.

A statement from MLHD said efforts are also continuing to recruit a career medical officer for the hospital, with the position also intending to form part of the Griffith Base Hospital's emergency department team.

Cr Maytom said an additional general practitioner signing up as a visiting medical officer will help to further reduce the fatigue faced by staff at the hospital.

"It's certainly going along well," Cr Maytom said.

"It's good to finally see we are making some good ground."

While the changes will not be instantaneous, Cr Maytom said MLHD has already spoken to the nursing staff at Leeton District Hospital regarding the proposed system and how it will be implemented going forward.

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