Last December the 17-bed hospital was bequeathed a staggering $508,000 from a Nelson Bay family after the death more than six years earlier of couple Tom and Rose Pearce.

At the time, son Mike Pearce, of Salamander Bay, paid tribute to his parents' philanthropy, revealing that the family's connection to the Tomaree Peninsula dated back to the 1960s.

"Both had used the services of the Tomaree and John Hunter hospitals, which prompted them to leave a charity trust fund in their wills," Mr Pearce told the Examiner.

A similar amount was left for both John Hunter Hospital and The Salvation Army.

Hunter New England Health this week said it would top up the money to fund an $850,000 refurbishment of the Tomaree Hospital emergency department.

"The refurbishment will deliver a larger, more private resuscitation bay, upgraded open treatment areas and two additional enclosed treatment bays," said Karen Kelly, executive director of Metropolitan Health Services.

"The enclosed bays will provide a more suitable treatment space for the care of paediatric, infectious and mental-health patients," she said.

Asked about any plans for an x-ray unit, Ms Kelly said that Tomaree Hospital had engaged a private imaging service at Nelson Bay.

"Patients who require urgent care after hours are transferred to John Hunter Hospital or Calvary Mater Newcastle," she said.

"Hunter New England Health understands the local community would like to see imaging capabilities available at Tomaree Hospital and we are exploring options to deliver these services.

"We will update the community as we have more information."

The upgrade is expected to commence after the summer peak and be completed by the end of 2016.