She said the staff there would still give the elective service and that three new emergency physicians had started in the emergency department only recently.

``The arrival of the new doctors means that the hospital now has more permanent senior medical staff working in the emergency department,'' she said. ``This brings Mt Druitt's medical staffing levels in line with other NSW major hospitals.''

The spokeswoman said all the emergency department staff had recently completed specialised training.

A senior doctor denied area health service claims that theatre staff previously rostered on night and weekend shifts for emergency surgery at Mt Druitt had been offered similar shifts there or at Blacktown.

``This is true, but at other times they have been told this is no longer an option,'' he said.

He said the ward was still unaccredited for training by the College of Emergency Medicine.

``With the most recent changes, it is even less likely to achieve this standard again,'' he said.

``These changes are a Department of Health directive and hence a political decision not one based on community needs or safety.''