Representatives from the Far West Area Health Service, the NSW Ambulance Service, local MP Ian Slack-Smith and members of the community attended the opening which was a tribute to the efforts of the Lightning Ridge community.

The NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Cherie Burton was expected to officially open the hospital but her plane was delayed.

With her in the plane also was the commemorative plaque for the hospital, which was found missing when the curtain was pulled away.

Despite this the show went on with all the official guests praising the local community for their efforts in helping build the hospital.

"The only reason we've got this health service here is because of the efforts of you the local people. If it wasn't for the efforts you people put in, making sure you were recognised and you needed a better facility it wouldn't be here," Far West Area Health Service board chairman Bill O'Neil said.

"The only way we can provide health services to outback areas is if the State and Federal government work together, and it's a good example here."

The new hospital cost $6,860,048 and boasts of new ambulance facilities, an accident and emergency facility, X-ray, four acute beds, 20 residential aged care beds including 14 high care and six low care beds, a special palliative care room, primary health care including women's health, children's health and sexual health, community health, mental health and counselling, Aboriginal health, and visiting specialists including gynaecology, podiatry, physiotherapy, pathology, occupational therapy, psychiatry, radiology and ophthalmology.