A leaked memo from Shoalhaven Hospital Group general manager Craig Hamer told staff the hospital would no longer provide patients the toiletries, because the cost was"significant" and "unneccessary".

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Chief Executive Margot Mains said the majority of patients prefer to bring their own toiletries to hospital.

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"That also helps us reduce unnecessary waste," she said.

But there was a softening of the stance saying "for those [patients] who can't, there are supplies available".

"Our priority is always the quality and safety of our health services and to ensure our health funding is spent as wisely as possible to benefit the community," Ms Mains said.

"The 2019-20 budget for Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is more than $998 million, an increase of more than $40 million on the 2018-19 budget."

ISLHD welcomed the announcement earlier this year that NSW would receive an increase of 8300 frontline staff over the next four years.

"That will benefit our community," Ms Mains said.

"Between mid-2012 and mid 2019 the ISLHD increased its workforce by an additional 1080 full time equivalent staff."

But the health district did not address the South Coast Register's question as to how many of the extra 5000 nurses promised during the March state election campaign had actually been appointed and were working in the Shoalhaven or claims from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) that $150 million worth of cuts to Local Health Districts were just putting more pressure on current staff and compromising patient care.

NSW Health denies there is an issue, saying there were "no budget cuts", the health budget "was a record $24 billion" there was "no reductions in frontline staff" with health districts encouraged to "to drive efficiencies in back office functions."

Ms Mains said across the Illawarra Shoalhaven, there was an "increase in patient presentations, and any efficiencies that can improve performance would ultimately enhance patient care."

"The NSW Government is investing $434 million for the upgrade of Shoalhaven Hospital which will not only ease the pressure on the emergency department but enhance clinical care across the hospital network and meet the needs of the growing Shoalhaven population," she said.