But health auxiliaries are beginning to ask if Port Augusta is worse-off under the plan.

Country health was a contentious issue at the Grey electorate annual general meeting, with many influential State and federal politicians listening to State opposition leader Martin Hamilton-Smith talk about the Liberal Party's concerns for the new Country Health SA plan.

Among Mr Hamilton-Smith's concerns was that Port Augusta's role as centre for excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health was merely a media stunt by the State Government.

Amid speculation that the system was a cover up for government debt, Mr Hamilton-Smith told party members that country health had succumbed to funding cuts after an over-zealous government sought advancement with Adelaide's tram lines and infrastructure needs.

"We meed to convince (Premier Mike Rann) that the world does not end at Gepps Cross," Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

Speaking with Liberal candidate for Stuart Dan van Holst Pellekaan, Mr Hamilton-Smith raised concerns over the influx of northern area patients Port Augusta would receive.

"I was very surprised that Port Augusta was not one of the four major hospitals," he said

"Port Augusta is a centre of rail and road crossing which makes you ask the question why wasn't Port Augusta one of the key hospitals."

Mr van Holst Pellekaan was also perplexed about the city being overlooked.

"If you look at it geographically then it makes sense for Port Augusta to be one (strategic hospital)," he said.

"It's hard to expect Port Augusta to carry the slack from people coming from the north."

It may not actually be as bad as the Liberals made it sound, Port Augusta Hospital Women's Auxiliary president Florence Robins said.

"As far as we know nothing is actually going to change with our hospital," Mrs Robins said.

"We're not being downgraded like other major centres, we're just not gaining as many services as Whyalla."

The auxiliary is often privy to hospital happenings, with hospital officials attending its meetings regularly, leading some community members to grow in support of the system.

The new system does not pose increased challenges to the Port Augusta hospital, Mrs Robins said.

"We have been an outreach centre for years and can cope with people using us as a centre for the north already," she said.

"The main concern about all this is that the smaller country hospitals will suffer.

"We need to feel for them, because I don't think we really need to worry."

Concerns for the system impacting on the city's health outlets are still evident.

Pika Wiya Health Advisory Council will meet on Thursday to discuss a ballot that may result in it disaffiliating from the Health Department.

Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has taken action, writing to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd about the electorate’s discontent with the system last week.

"The Prime Minister needs to bring the (South Australian) Government to perform," Mr Ramsey said.

But it is not all doom and gloom for Port Augusta.

The system left the hospital virtually untouched, Mrs Robins said.

To view the Country Health SA plan and make an informed decision for yourself visit www.health.sa.gov.au and follow the links.