While Mr Bromhead said there was no doubt the financial impact of the pandemic would affect future State budgets, he did not believe it would cause him to renege on his election commitment.

"I don't think it will," Mr Bromhead said.

"I think it's a promise that will be delivered."

Mr Bromhead admitted that COVID-19 had already caused some delay to the project, with the clinical services plan being undertaken by Johnstaff no longer on track to be completed this month.

The clinical services plan is being undertaken to assess the health needs of the Lower Mid North Coast, including the services that may be required for the Great Lakes.

"I've been advised that because of COVID-19 there are still some stakeholders that haven't been consulted with," Mr Bromhead said.

He was unsure of when the clinical services plan would be completed.

However, with the NSW State Budget to be delivered in November, Mr Bromhead believed there would be appropriate funding set aside for the next stage of the project.

"I know I've got the support of the government," he said.

"My role is to continue to advocate for the delivery of an election promise."

Mr Bromhead said the COVID-19 pandemic had only highlighted further the need for a public hospital in the area.

"It's not a case of us wanting a hospital, it's a case of us needing a hospital," he said.

Mr Bromhead said the proposed facility would've provided an additional testing site for COVID-19, but he was unsure if it would've been equipped to handle the needs of people actually suffering from the virus.

"It would be equipped for testing, absolutely," he said.

"But if you're talking about people in respiratory distress, without the clinical services plan, I can't say."

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