The organisations which run Balclutha's primary and secondary health services are happy with the past year, but warn the challenges of finding top staff to work in the rural setting will continue for some time yet.
The annual reports from Clutha Health Inc, Clutha Community Health Company and Clutha Health First's managers all touched on the significance of the hospital's impending 10-year anniversary, but also were consistent in their message that it needed to continue being proactive in attracting and keeping qualified staff in the area.
Clutha Health Inc, which handles the day-to-day running of the hospital, posted a net surplus of $255,172 for the year ending June 30, 2008, slightly up on the 2007 surplus of $232,639.
Chairman Murray McLean said while it had been a successful year, the continuing delivery of health services in Clutha was "under attack" because of the lack of trained professionals wanting to work in rural areas.
It was working with the Otago Southern Region Primary Health Organisation (PHO) to turn this around.
"To all residents of the Clutha district, be positive about your health services and spread the word that Clutha is a good area to practise your skills in."
Clutha Community Health Company chairman Brian Dodds, who has been involved with the hospital since well before it officially opened in December 1998, said it had been a significant and challenging year.
Highlights included buying the Balclutha General Practitioners Ltd business, investing in neighbouring property and the continuing challenges of recruiting health professionals.
Buying the general practice was based on a need to retain a strong GP service, relieve doctors of their recruitment and administrative functions, look at ways of making hospital services more supportive and improve efficiencies.
Finding and keeping staff was the group's major issue though, Mr Dodds said.
On the property front, the group bought the former Findlaters Sportsworld building next to the hospital earlier this year and staff, tenants and service providers have been asked to contribute suggestions on what should be developed there.
While the group reported a $220,514 surplus this year, it was budgeting for a loss in the 2008-09 year.
Clutha Health First manager Ray Anton said the hospital had been blessed with strong community and board support as well as a great team of staff.
The PHO and Clutha Health annual meetings will be held jointly at the Rosebank Lodge in Balclutha on November 19.
