Staff at the Young Hospital took part in a 24 hour strike last Wednesday over the NSW Government's decision to close the Cootamundra Pathology Lab.
According to the Health Services Union the industrial action, which was supported by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and other locals, was part of an ongoing dispute over local pathology services.
Last month NSW Health Pathology staff from the Cootamundra lab will be offered positions at Young with the plan to expand the current capabilities of the Young Hospital Pathology lab to be extended.
Members of the Health Services Union joined with staff and Ms Cooke expressing concerns over the expected workload, which is already being reported at capacity.
"Our members take their jobs very seriously and don't want to create even the slightest disruption to services, but they have been left with no choice," HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said.
"These essential workers are telling us today's minor disruption will be a drop in the ocean compared to what happens when this service is lost.
"It's not only disappointing that a stretched lab will take on more work, it's also dangerous."
There are fears a reduction in services will increase wait times for diagnostic results, and put more pressure on Young and Wagga's pathology services.
"We gave NSW Pathology the chance to do the right thing and reverse the decision and maintain operations at the Cootamundra Pathology Lab," Mr Hayes said.
The strike took place outside of the Young Hospital last week.
Ms Cooke also questioned Premier Minss in the NSW Parliament sharing her and local's concerns over the closure of the facility in Cootamundra.
"With the support of the Union, the HSU, pathology clinicians are about to strike over your government's decision to close the Cootamundra Hospital Pathology Lab, the closure will overwhelm pathology at Young, where services are already at breaking point, will you step in, agree to meet with me, these frontline workers and their union to hear why you must reverse this reckless decision by your government?" Ms Cooke asked in parliament.
Members of parliament were not happy with Ms Cooke asking her question, with MPs calling for the Speaker to take action as it was not a part of Standing Orders.
The Speaker called Members to come to order allowed the Member for Opposition Business to clarify that the question was in the scope of the Standing Orders and within Ms Cooke's portfolio and should be answered by the Premier.
The Speaker said he would be happy to hear from the Leader of the House (the Premier), however, he had ruled immediately that it was in order.
"I have been advised by the clerk of this parliament that it is completely within order and within the practice of this house in previous times for the Premier to be able to refer a question to the relevant Minister," Speaker Greg Piper said.
"I ruled that it is in order and I will now call the Minister for Health."
Minister for Health Ryan Park spoke in response of the question from Ms Cooke saying that he knows it is an important issue for Ms Cooke.
"I also want to acknowledge that a person who doesn't spend a lot of time in this place, Adam Hall, is also here with us today," Mr Park said.
Adam Hall is the political manager for the Health Services Union in NSW, ACT and Queensland.
"I know the HSU have an interest in this area and in acknowledging them, I also acknowledge the other healthcare workers who are with us here today from the Nurses and Midwives Association," Mr Park continued.
Mr Park said NSW Health Pathology is committed to ensuring pathology services continue to meet the needs of the local area.
"But I say from the outset, I think all of my colleagues on this side, and I'm sure when you were in government the same, we try and be as accessible as possible to Members of this House, who have concerns on behalf of issues within their community," he said.
"I am happy to meet with the Member, that is not a problem, currently though, this is important, currently 70 percent of samples taken in Cootamundra require transfer to Sydney, Young or Wagga Wagga for testing.
"The expansion of services will see more testing undertaken within the local region at the Young laboratory, the transition will provide new technology, faster testing and a range of benefits for the Cootamundra community." 
According to Mr Park most testing to be performed at the expanded Young lab will include extended operating hours, including weekends, enhanced point of care testing capabilities at Cootamundra and will include new full blood count technology for urgent, onsite testing, retaining Cootamundra collection services for inpatients and outpatients and maintaining blood transfusion capacity with a remote release blood fridge, with O-negative blood products available to support emergency response capabilities.
"There will be no reduction in overall staffing levels," he said.
"This model has already been successfully operating in similar sized communities for more than a decade."
Mr Park used Temora, which does not have pathology services, as an example of where the model has been used.