Board deputy director Michael Hundleby said it had been "heartening to see the energy and momentum" that had gone into building improved systems and processes for the hospital.
He thanked staff for their efforts to improve services and said the board looked forward to seeing the future improvements it anticipated would result from their actions.
The August report from the NHB team assessing the hospital systems called for urgent improvements at the hospital where, it said, demoralised staff were struggling to provide safe services.
It said the dedication of staff members allowed the hospital to function better than it should in the circumstances. The report contained four broad recommendations and 45 specific actions, 26 of them to be completed by the end of this year.
One recommendation, which was to have been completed by this month, involved a review and realignment of management and clinical leadership roles to provide one clear structure for the organisation.
The Southern District Health Board, however, has postponed this until the arrival of new chief executive Carole Heatly, in February.
At the board's meeting this month, a report briefly outlining progress on 22 of the recommendations showed that "scoping" work was still being undertaken on eight of them.
This included a recommendation about removing the financial boundaries reflecting the previous Southland and Otago boards.
Board finance and funding general manager Robert Mackway-Jones told the meeting the boundaries did not exist, but it was a matter of removing some staff members' perceptions, and getting them to take a districtwide view.
A programme was being developed to ensure this was understood throughout the organisation.
Two items were listed as being complete: one was the electronic medication pilot programme evaluation and the other was the appointment of Ms Heatly.
Recommendations listed as being "on track" included ensuring all staff had a good understanding of the vision and strategic direction of the board, and plans for regular meetings with training and tertiary education providers to discuss opportunities for "shared innovations".
A recommendation the board develop and introduce a communication plan outlining an effective internal and external communication strategy was classed as being on track.
The board made a new position of public relations and communications manager, and appointed Stephen Addison who began work earlier this month.
One of the tasks the board is expected to have done by next June involves completing facility planning and development for Dunedin Hospital in collaboration with the University of Otago, and taking into consideration the services the board provides beyond its boundaries.
The report to the board said expertise and resources were required for the board to complete the plan for all of its sites.
It would also need to follow a population needs assessment, the strategic plan, both for the board and the South Island, and the development of its clinical capital expenditure programme.
