For the third month running, doctors' wages were well over budget in March, a report to Southern District Health Board's hospitals' advisory committee shows.
In March, doctors' wages were $932,000 over budget, and year-to-date were $3.4 million over budget.
Doctors' wages were the main reason for an unfavourable "provider arm" result, a $1.27 million deficit, compared with a budgeted March deficit of $896,000.
Year-to-date, the provider arm's deficit was $2.5 million, and the DHB forecast a $3.2 million provider arm deficit for the year, considerably worse than the $491,000 surplus which was budgeted.
Reasons for overspending on doctors included additional staff appointments, leave not being taken, and higher-than-expected overtime costs and lump-sum collective agreement settlement payments.
Costs for locums were $28,000 more than expected, year-to-date, and were $54,000 over for the month. Nurses' wages were $170,000 worse than expected in March, but were under, year-to-date, by nearly $1.6 million.
Reasons for overspending in March on nurses included increased patient watches for "confused patients"; additional staff needed for emergency psychiatric services because of construction work; higher sick leave and services appointing personnel to their budgeted staffing levels.
Savings are being made on infrastructure and maintenance costs, which were $520,000 under budget year-to-date ($288,000 under for March).
The issue is likely to prompt discussion at the committee meeting in Invercargill tomorrow.
