Wagga Base name change will see Wagga Rural Referral Hospital sign taken down from hospital's exterior

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District says planning is being finalised for the removal of the 5th floor signage on the hospital's exterior, which still displays the name Wagga Rural Referral Hospital.

The MLHD says removal of the signage has been organised to fit in with scheduled construction activity on the new building.

The former Wagga Base Hospital became the Wagga Rural Referral Hospital in 2015 as part of the construction of the $282 million new facility, which included the multi-storey main building.

But widespread community backlash saw its name changed back to Wagga Base Hospital in early 2018.

Opposition to the new name was so strong the MLHD board agreed to launch a public survey in 2017.

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Sixty-one per cent of the 6570 voters preferred the name Wagga Base Hospital.

An online poll conducted at the time by The Daily Advertiser attracted more than 1870 votes.

Of these, 85.5 per cent were in favour of returning to the previous name of Wagga Base Hospital, with 8.0 per cent nominating Wagga Hospital as their preferred option.

Just 6.5 per cent supported the retention of Wagga Rural Referral Hospital, which one resident called "tongue twisting".

An MLHD spokesperson said signage to reflect the Wagga Base Hospital name had already been updated at the Edward Street entrance to the health campus, as well as on the ground floor of the acute services building.

The hospital is currently in the final stage of its $431 million redevelopment.