It comes after nurses raised similar bullying concerns in a series of letters to The Daily Advertiser, claiming to have been “bullied and manipulated subtly and overtly” and contending with a culture of “nepotism, complacency and ignorance”.

“Daily we are subjected to the bullying and aggression of our nursing directors and managers,” the whistleblower said.

“Senior nurse managers need to be held accountable for the increased level of stress and mental illness that is beleaguering our ranks and adding to the rising levels of sick leave.

“Nurses have no access to consultation with senior nurse managers for fear of retribution and disciplinary action.

The claims were backed by a Wagga delegate of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Assocation (NSWNMA), who claimed “there is bullying”.

The nurse’s union lead organiser Linda Griffiths said Wagga hospital staff had requested a meeting with the chief executive of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Jill Ludford to no avail.

“People are feeling the workload is so huge, things aren’t improving and we’re concerned about their long-term future,” Ms Griffiths said.

Ms Griffiths said daily text messages to staff asking them to work extra shifts to cover shortages contributed to the low morale.

“When the hospital is constantly short-staffed, they feel set upon by the daily text messages asking them to work,” she said.

Wagga Rural Referral Hospital acting general manager Owen Thomas declined to be interviewed, but in a written statement said “behaviour that makes other members feel inferior, humiliated, intimated, upset or threatened will not be tolerated”.

In response to questions about the staff shortage, Mr Thomas said the hospital currently has the equivalent of 30 full time vacancies, but he was “progressing the interview process for over 40 overseas trained nurses”.