DHB

A Southern District Health Board multimillion-dollar savings initiative mostly comprises depreciation changes and targeting staff annual leave, the hospital advisory committee heard this week.

That DHBs are "punished" for providing too many operations is a "perversity", the head of the senior doctors' union says.

A "public education programme" to "celebrate DHB success" is part of efforts to improve communication, a Southern District Health Board internal strategy document reveals.

Despite acknowledging the sector's misgivings, the Southern District Health Board is going ahead with plans to cut beds from a Dunedin residential service for people with mental illness or addiction.