23 Dec 2016

CDHB needs to cut costs, Health Minister says

4:21 pm on 23 December 2016

Canterbury District Health Board needs to consider reviewing its building plans to cut costs, the Health Minister says.

National MP Jonathan Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the CDHB needs to cut costs for the next financial year. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

In a report commissioned by the Ministry of Health, consultancy firm PwC predicted the DHB would post a $38 million deficit this financial year.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said the board needed to take steps to ensure it was in a better financial position by 2018, when major new hospital facilities are due to be opened.

He noted steps suggested in the report, such as leasing rather than owning some facilities and reviewing the future facilities plan.

The report recommended against additional government funding, Dr Coleman said.

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