Wagga's nurses and midwives walked off the job as part of statewide industrial action demanding the government establish staff-to-patient ratios in NSW hospitals.

The Wagga branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) joined thousands of nurses across the state for the strike.

READ MORE: 'Not sustainable': Wagga nurses join statewide strike demanding improved patient-to-staff ratios in NSW hospitals

LHD chief executive Jill Ludford said that Wagga's nurses and healthcare staff have worked "tirelessly over many years", but particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Not only have they had to care for people with COVID-19, particularly before we were all vaccinated, but then in the most recent outbreak they've had to cover shifts for their colleagues when they were either a close contact [or had COVID]," she said.

"What we're seeing is a workforce who have worked tirelessly; they are absolute champions and they're tired now and have a message for government."

Ms Ludford said the healthcare workers who went on strike on Tuesday "did not inconvenience the health service at all".

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"They made sure that all of our essential services were covered and that all of our patients were well cared for," she said.

Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, a longtime nurse and former member of the NSWNMA, was in Wagga on Wednesday and said it was important to "find some really good long-term, sustainable workforce solutions".

"I'm not going to be able to make everybody happy ... but what I will do and what I absolutely commit to doing, is making sure that we have the conversations, that those nurses voices are heard and that we come to a space where we know we can deliver really good patient outcomes within the frameworks that we have," she said.

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