Paying for external support for its breast-screening service has cost the Southern District Health Board more than $650,000 for external screen readings in the past couple of years.
Most of the expense had been incurred since external expertise was called in after fears were raised about the service in March last year.
Communications director Steve Addison, releasing the figure under the Official Information Act, said the board had paid $651,278 in the last two financial years for outsourced mammography services.
''Counties Manukau continue to assist us to provide sustainable mammography services to the women of the Southern DHB district,'' he said.
The Otago Daily Times has sought to clarify the portion spent following the urgent audit in March last year, but was unable to do so.
However, a spokeswoman said only a ''small level of cost'' was incurred before the audit.
External expertise was called in when the Ministry of Health urgently reviewed BreastScreen Healthcare last year, following fears there had been a delay in diagnosing some women's breast cancer.
The service was cleared of any blame, but the external support continued, at the ministry's recommendation.
The spending contributed to $1.2 million overspending in the last full financial on outsourced clinical services.
The board also released the first six weeks of expenses relating to a senior funding and strategy manager, Dr Sharon Kletchko, shared with Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.
Appointed in mid-May, Dr Kletchko spent $1121 on travel, $575 on accommodation, and $70 for meals/taxis from May 13 to June 30.
