Liam Minogue, a nurse who has worked at Corowa hospital and is now undertaking COVID testing for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, is one of more than a dozen Riverina submitters to the state probe into health rural health outcomes and access.

The bulk are about Deniliquin and the shortcomings of that town's hospital which has left patients needing to travel to Albury, Victoria or Wagga for treatment.

Mr Minogue said nurses at Corowa had patient loads of nine or more.

That compares to ratios of one to five at Victorian rural hospitals following the passing of legislation brought in by the government of Premier Daniel Andrews.

"You have acutely sick patients and a palliative and due to no ratios you don't get to spend any time with the palliative care patient and are lucky to get a dinner break," Mr Minogue wrote in his submission to the parliamentary committee of inquiry.

"This can't go on, nurses and patients deserve better.

"Having ratios would also provide a much safer environment for both staff and patients.

"I hope in due course our state can finally introduce ratios are follow suit of the other states.

"This is for your grandparents, your parents, your kids, your grandkids. Please think about this."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has previously rejected applying ratios in her state, saying having the "right policy" to support nurses was more important.

Edward River Council mayor Norm Brennan and general manager Phillip Stone are among a string of organisations and individuals that have submitted concerns about the Deniliquin hospital and reduced health services in the western Riverina centre.

They include under-16s not being able to receive treatment at the hospital, having to travel to Moama to see a GP and no youth mental health assistance.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The council stated it was "critical" children got aid at the hospital, declaring more than 2000 were unable to receive hospital help in 2018.

Cr Brennan told The Border Mail on Sunday of his frustration at children not having treatment.

"If they get a splinter in their finger they can't be touched and that's ridiculous, sometimes they might only need a stitch or two," he said.

He and Mr Stone also highlighted in their submission the impact of the border closure by NSW last year on health access with Victorian hospitals at Shepparton, Bendigo and Melbourne shut-off to their residents.

The first hearing for the inquiry is due to be held at Parliament House in Sydney on March 19.

Cr Brennan hopes a further hearing will be scheduled for Deniliquin, saying it would allow locals, who otherwise would not be able to travel, to testify and give the committee a firsthand appreciation for the community.

In addition to hospital services, the inquiry's remit includes examining access to oncology treatment and palliative care in regional NSW and provision of ambulance services.