WBHA president Rodney Parsons has called on authorities to keep the existing hospital name.

“It should remain Wagga Base Hospital,” he said.

“There’s a lot more to it than just changing the name. I’m dead against it.”

Mr Parsons said it was not yet clear whether the WBHA would change its name - or whether the Fitzmaurice Street shopfront would likewise change.

“It’s going to be quite a procedure,” he said.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Wagga people have also vented frustration on social media over the renaming of the hospital.

“Silly name. Who has ever heard of a rural referral hospital?” one user wrote.

Another said the name change was “ridiculous”.

“What an absolute waste of time, effort and resources to rename it!” Sharon Lucas said.

Others said the hospital was formerly named Wagga District Hospital and the public would become accustomed with the new name over time.

The hospital’s redevelopment executive manager, Irene Hing, reiterated that the name change was in line with the revised role the hospital would have in the region.

Ms Hing said the Wagga hospital would be the region’s referral hospital – and the new name was to reflect that.

She also said the hospital had to conform with the state’s names policy.

“There is a larger change process that is being undertaken,” she said.

“Renaming the Wagga Base Hospital is just one step in the change process.”

Ms Hing said details of other changes – such as the changing of the hospital's telephone number – would be announced in coming months.

The new hospital is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the handover to staff anticipated to take place in the first quarter of next year.

The “Hercules” crane was removed last week, internal fit-out works are being undertaken and the scaffolding is beginning to come down.