Although officially opened in October, the new ED has only been partially in use until now.

A major part of the ED's work has continued to be upstairs in the hospital while some minor building works were completed.

The works, including such things as shelving, were done in consultation with nursing and midwifery to fine-tune the area for everyday use.

The most important element of any ED, the resuscitation bay, has been fully operational since October.

The hospital's ED has in recent years been split between the intensive care emergency room downstairs for serious cases, and rooms upstairs for less urgent cases where it is understood staff moved several years ago to be closer to other areas of hospital work.

All the emergency facilities are now back on the ground floor in an overhauled area that gives better access for ambulances and patients and makes it easier for staff to give the best possible emergency response.

The recobmined ED downstairs area was was refurbished at a cost of $461,500.

"The resuscitation bay in the emergency department has been in use since the opening in October," according to Jocelyn Piper, who started in November as the new facility manager.

Cootamundra Hospital will continue to be supported by the dedicated local GPs, while the locum doctor takes a Christmas break.

"We are really lucky to have such great local GPs in Cootamundra and we thank them for their ongoing care," Ms Piper said.

The new virtual GP service also started on Monday.

The virtual service is supported by Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and provides specialist clinical support directly to the emergency bedside via telehealth.

Cootamundra Hospital management also advise that recruitment for the nurse practitioner is in its final stages.

Between mid-2012 and mid-2019 the MLHD increased its workforce by 475 full time equivalent staff - an increase of 17.4% including 49 more doctors, 261 more nurses and midwives, and 68 more allied health staff.