Chief executive Chris Fleming said overall improvements had contributed to the better financial performance. Reducing elective surgery had not played a part, he said.
On the contrary, if the board had been able to undertake more elective procedures, it would have been in a stronger financial position through being able to access further funding if related targets had been met, he told the ODT.
He was speaking after the SDHB’s hospital advisory committee meeting this week, which was told despite a projected deficit of $35.9million for the 2015-16 financial year, the final result had been a $33.5million deficit.
For the 2016-17 year the final deficit was expected to be $21,836,000, less than the budgeted figure, and a positive outcome under the circumstances, Mr Fleming said.
He acknowledged strike action by junior doctors, also known as resident medical officers, had been among the challenges last year.
The strikes "did impact" some planned activities and had a "significant flow-on effect".
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That's simply wonderful. Balancing the books really is the most important thing a hospital board could do isn't it?
Meanwhile, people can't get heart surgery, people are still going blind. And who knows what other horrors are being hidden.
But of course all the fly in consultants are still wasting hundreds of thousands a year not making any decision on the hospital rebuild. None that will be released before the election at least.
Surely the actual saving is only $2.4 million from 2015-16?
The larger figure is only the 'expected' result.
Let's wait and see.
Plus, how much of this has been getting rid of back-office staff so that frontline workers have to spend too much of their valuable time with paper work?
Would love to see detail of where the 'savings' have been made.
Not from the Compass food deal, that's for sure.
Had the misfortune to have to attend A&E the other day with a friend. Arrived at 3.00 pm with huge pain in the gut which came on apropos of nothing. Sat on a bed with only blood tests done until 8.00pm and was then rushed through an ultrasound that the doctor said wasn't her strong suit and sent home with the recommendation that we go to our local doctor and ask for another one. Got out of there at 10.00pm. So glad you are reducing the deficit. Too few staff, too few beds, not enough equipment to deal to the people needing to be seen. Another friend recently had a car accident with femur broken and clavicle. They fixed the leg but said they couldn't afford another 2 hours for the clavicle so it would have to mend as it might. 3 days later she was told she would have to go home because they needed the bed. Call that progress?? I certainly don't.