Some Otago District Health Board members missed out on discussing the board's break-even plan this week before it was submitted because the Ministry of Health would not agree to the plan arriving a day late.
The revised plan, requested because the ministry was not happy about the board's projected deficits for the next two years, was due on September 30.
Board chairman Errol Millar sought a day's extension to the deadline to allow all board members to discuss the plan at the monthly board meeting yesterday, but this was turned down.
Members of the audit, finance and risk committee had gone through the document on Monday, Mr Millar said.
Other board members were emailed copies before it went to the ministry on time, but were not able to discuss it formally before then.
Under the revised plan, the board has to break even by the end of 2011-12.
This year, it is budgeting for a $7 million deficit.
He said plan contents could not be disclosed, as they were under consideration by the ministry.
He was hopeful that now the board had presented its plan, a decision would be made soon on the first stage of the master site plan, which addresses some of Dunedin Hospital's substandard facilities.
