With the Mudgee Hospital Redevelopment well under way, a vocal group of residents have ramped up calls for an MRI machine to be a part of the hospital as soon as possible.

The $70 million mega-project is ahead of schedule to meet its 2020 open date with Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders visiting Mudgee recently to highlight the pouring of concrete slabs, laying the important foundations for the new facility.

Local businessman, Hugh Bateman, backed by scores of passionate locals, is calling for an MRI machine to be installed at the new Mudgee Hospital.

Speaking with the Mudgee Guardian, Hugh stressed its importance.

"I think there is an assumption by many people - I've noticed especially on social media - that we were getting one, that is not the case," he said.

"It's not a chook raffle fundraising thing. It's something that requires a lot of money. But people are having to travel when they're not well and paying for it,"

"This is a growing region. It's such an integral part of everyday health now that it just stands to reason that you should have one on premises."

MP, Dugald Saunders was quizzed about the possibility of an MRI at the aforementioned visit to the Mudgee Hospital site.

"I've already started those discussions, now that we do have another Coalition Government in federally I'll continue to have those discussions but based on where I'm up to at the moment, Mudgee at this stage just does not qualify because of its population," he said

"In simple terms, the Commonwealth applies [MRI] licenses to populations of at least 40,000 that's where it's at. Dubbo Hospital has only just received one in the last couple of months,"

"These licenses are given out by the federal government so it's something state government doesn't have influence on."

Mr Saunders said that while the federal government is ultimately responsible for whether an MRI comes to Mudgee, he did remind residents of the already-planned CT scanner.

"The MRIs will have to still - at this stage be at Orange - or most people possibly go to Dubbo as well for that sort of facility," he said.

"Mudgee Hospital priority-wise isn't at the top of that list, but it has been prioritised for a CT scanner."

With the calls for an MRI are obviously a hot issue for some, what do local medical professionals think? The Mudgee Guardian spoke to Dr Peter Roberts, GP at Mudgee Medical Centre about such a machine.

He said an MRI would be a great addition, but stopped short of calling it 'absolutely necessary'.

"Look I think it would be wonderful for Mudgee to have an MRI. I think it's essential that we have a CT scanner on-site in the hospital as the absolute minimum. An MRI would certainly complement that quite considerably," he said.

"I would definitely every week be sending someone for an MRI. You know there's 18-19 doctors in Mudgee all doing the same thing and the nearest one to us is Dubbo so it is quite a long hike for some people,"

"To be perfectly honest, there wouldn't be a hospital of Mudgee's size in Australia that would have an MRI. But I think a CT Scanner on site is absolutely 100% essential. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said that I felt the hospital would be incomplete without it,"

"But I would fully support a campaign for one."

A question of interest in an MRI machine Mudgee garnered hundreds of responses on social media, with many supporting the idea, citing serious issues with travelling while ill and transport costs.