The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has angrily demanded Prime Minister Rudd assure residents in New England that no hospital or medical service will close as part of his health reform.

Senator Williams said reports that senior health clinicians believe 117 hospitals in the State, including Inverell and Glen Innes, may struggle to survive the Rudd takeover are disturbing.

He said Prince Albert Memorial Hospital at Tenterfield and community non-acute facilities at Guyra, Tingha, Bingara and Werris Creek have also been named as being in jeopardy.

"These hospitals and medical facilities are block-funded and would not be financially viable under the Federal Government reform, so again it is regional New South Wales that will suffer from a badly-constructed plan.

I support any move to reduce bureaucracy, return hospitals to local control and put more people on the front line, but as more details of Mr. Rudd's plan are revealed it is obvious this is not the solution.

The Prime Minister needs to outline the future of those facilities.

Mr. Rudd should be talking to the States about getting more doctors and specialists into regional areas which are crying out for help, and providing more funding for our aged care sector", Senator Williams said.