Chief operating officer for Southland Lexie O'Shea told tthe hospitals' advisory committee this week it was a "little bit challenging" trying to keep medical officer staffing levels up to the level required.
The committee was advised there were gaps in the roster for this month onwards.
The team was working hard to fill the vacancies with locums or with remaining staff agreeing to work extra duties.
Contingency planning had begun, the committee was told.
Mrs O'Shea said the required level of staffing had applied all this year so the hospital could manage the number of patients "coming through the front door".
This was needed for safety purposes.
The future of health services in the Wakatipu is under consideration by a National Health Board panel after controversy over what is the best option.
Board management has been keen to see a one-stop shop set up in the area, where hospital and community services could be offered in an integrated family health centre.
This would involve either revamping the hospital or developing a centre elsewhere.
After the meeting Mrs O'Shea advised the hospital had three shifts for medical officers: one doctor rostered from 8am to 6pm, one from 11am to 9pm and one from 8.30pm to 8am. This was designed to ensure two doctors were working between 11am and 6pm to cover times when there was the greatest workload.
The move to this level of cover was introduced in December 2009 and had continued since.
Chairman of the National Health Board expert panel reviewing proposals for the Wakatipu Dr Peter Foley released a statement saying, after four weeks into the "listening process", the panel was putting together some possible scenarios to "focus" people.
The panel's work this week included a meeting with the district health board, the Southern Primary Health Organisation and Dunedin Hospital chief medical officer Richard Bunton.
The second community drop-in forum was held yesterday in Queenstown and the final forum, on general practice and community health services, will be held on July 22.
The panel's recommendations are expected to be tabled at the Southern District Health Board meeting in a month's time.
