The action will start at 12.30pm.

This is despite Sunday's announcement by the Coalition government to deliver 8300 more frontline staff to public hospitals across the state.

That figure includes an extra 5000 nurses and midwives.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said based on the projections, the local health district will receive 199 more nurses and midwives, 24 more doctors, 26 more allied health works, and 43 more hospital support workers.

“This increase in nurse numbers equates to even higher nurse to patient ratios than the NSW Nurses & Midwives’ Association asked for and eclipses all Labor’s promises,” Mrs Williams said. 

“This means patients will have more nurses to look after them and nurses will have more colleagues to share the workload."

In a further escalation in the lead up to the March 23 state election, the Labor opposition says it will match the new government commitment of 5000 more nurses.

Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord says Labor has been discussing critical nurse-to-patient ratios - the best measure for improved nursing care - with the nurses and midwives association of NSW for some time.

Mr Secord said Labor will continue to have discussions about how we will deliver better on the ground health services for NSW. 

"The Coalition announcement is scant on detail and leaves some unanswered questions," he said.

"This includes whether nurse to patient ratios form any part of the government announcement; whether they will be registered nurses, enrolled nurses or assistants in nursing; and in what disciplines will they will be employed?"

Local organiser of the Nurses and Midwives’ Association, Mark Brennan, says Wednesday's action would raise concerns over current inadequate staffing numbers.

Mr Brennan, who works as a nurse at the hospital, says the action is needed to bring attention to the existing "flawed system".

He says the association supports a state Labor plan to introduce nurse to patient ratios.

Mr Brennan said Port Macquarie Base Hospital currently has to rely on an inefficient ‘nursing hours per patient day’ rostering system.

"Our general inpatient wards, such as medical/surgical, and some other wards are currently staffed so that, on average, patients receive five and a half nursing hours for every 24 hours they are in the ward.

"Unfortunately, there are still no minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in our emergency or children’s wards.

"The current flawed system doesn’t ensure minimum mandated staffing levels," he said.

"That’s why we are asking the NSW government to guarantee ratios on every shift, in every ward.”

Mr Brennan said NSW Labor has committed to mandated ratios of 1:4 - one nurse to four patients - in our general medical wards at Port Macquarie Base Hospital and 1:3 in our emergency department and paediatric ward. 

Labor has agreed to lock this into law by implementing ratios into our state nursing award, he said.

"No other political candidates in NSW have published a fully developed and funded ratios plan to date," he added.

He said this would be a long awaited improvement across the hospital. 

Mr Brennan said the current staffing system allows ongoing unfilled vacancies, which places patients at risk and puts additional strain on staff and hospital resources. 

"We know a ratios system is a necessity for safe patient care and would also stem the flood of overworked nurses leaving our public hospital.”

He said nurses and midwives are exhausted and feel they are rapidly burning themselves out trying to maintain a high standard of care.

Many are under enormous pressure, with many missing their breaks almost every day and staying back after their shifts to assist with workloads, he says.

"The reality is, we know 65 per cent of nurses and midwives in NSW have considered leaving the profession, that’s where we’re at and it‘s heartbreaking.”

Mr Brennan said, to date, the Coalition government has refused to commit to a more transparent ratios system, which would deliver safer staffing throughout our hospital.

"The Coalition has ignored us for the past eight years on this issue and we’ve had enough, it’s time for change.”

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