Health Minister Jillian Skinner joined the Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hodgkinson at Cowra yesterday to announce $500,000 in funding for the establishment of a satellite dialysis service at Cowra Hospital.

Fitting out of the Cowra renal unit will begin mid-next year and will open initially with six chairs operating over three shifts per week, providing treatment for six people.

"I am very pleased to be able to visit Cowra today to announce funding for a vital service for the people of this a region," Mrs Skinner said.

"The new satellite service in Cowra will be supported by Orange Hospital's renal dialysis unit and will provide access to dialysis for people who would otherwise have to travel to Forbes or Orange."

Ms Hodgkinson said there are currently six people travelling to Forbes and Orange from the Cowra region for hospital-based haemodialysis treatment.

"At the moment we have four patients travelling to Forbes three days per week and two patients going to Orange three days per week. The establishment of a local service will clearly be life-changing for these people," Ms Hodgkinson said.

"The new renal unit at Cowra to have an immensely positive impact on quality of life for these patients as it will reduce their travelling time to access essential treatment by more than six hours.

"The unit will also be future-proofed to have the capacity for eight chairs should patient need increase.

"The announcement of the new renal unit comes as a new oncology nurse has begun caring for patients at Cowra. She is a wonderful addition to the hard-working team at the hospital."

An area on the second floor of the Cowra Hospital has been identified as a suitable location of this service.

Cowra mayor Cr Bill West said the unit will complement the ambulatory care and chemotherapy units already on that floor.

"There's an immense benefit to the community, especially for the people who require treatment and their families," Cr West said.

"This is a great result for all those who've worked so hard."