Dunedin and Wakari Hospital's month-long norovirus outbreak cost the Otago District Health Board at least $276,000.
Although this figure includes known revenue loss from breast screening and the cafeteria totalling more than $26,000, other possible revenue loss has not been included, because the hospitals hope to recover it.
The biggest bill during the outbreak was almost $131,000 for sick leave, a report to the board's hospital advisory committee tomorrow says. Additional overtime cost a further $28,252.
The number of staff affected during the outbreak was 408, compared with 162 patients.
The highest number of patients with the illness in one day was 14 on August 20, while the corresponding figure for staff was 41 on August 18.
The report says the figures are approximate because they are suspected rather than confirmed cases.
The outbreak has been officially defined as from July 9, two days before the illness first appeared in Ward 10A at Wakari Hospital, to September 2, when the hospital services had returned to normal.
Cleaning costs were up by $29,145 during the outbreak, with the cleaning service carrying out an extra 1450 hours of cleaning.
The hospital's laundry provider ALSCO processed an additional 7000kg of linen, including covers for food trolleys, curtains, mops and scrubs.
Usually, the firm would wash about 50 bags of laundry a week, but during the height of the outbreak it was washing 400 bags.
Hazardous waste from the hospitals during August also increased by 2000kg.
As a result of the outbreak and the postponement of more than 2000 appointments, some of the hospital services ran below the level expected in August The report says it will take at least six months to " return the system to equilibrium" unless some patients are put into the category of active review rather than being given treatment times, or some patients are referred back to their GP.
Outbreak costs
Top 5 Dunedin/Wakari Hospital norovirus outbreak costs.-
• Sick leave - $130,954
• consumables - $34,212
• cleaning - $29,145
• additional duties/overtime - $28,252
• revenue loss from cafeteria - $14,000
