Vacancies at the Otago District Health Board have decreased to the point where the board could be at risk of going over-budget if many more staff are appointed.
Regional chief financial officer Robert Mackway-Jones said last week the board budgeted for about 70 vacancies at any one time and was soon expected to be about six away from that.
Personnel costs are the board's biggest single item of expenditure, accounting for more than $199 million of its expected $539 million expenses.
Mr Mackway-Jones said while it might be thought having high vacancies was good for the budget, it did cost the board for extra overtime costs and other allowances, as well as staff not taking leave at the required rate.
It was clearly also hard for staff who were required to deliver services with reduced numbers.
Vacancies 18 months ago of about 140 were of considerable concern.
Reports to board and committee meetings then were scattered with references to difficulties caused through lack of staff.
Chief operating officer Vivian Blake said there had been a gradual turn around in staff vacancies.
To improve its retention rates, a staff survey was initiated by emergency medicine and surgery services group manager Dr Colleen Coop, and a project on workplace culture and a staff buddy programme was led by diagnostic and support services group manager Sonja Dillon.
Mrs Blake said the recession had also helped, because people needed security and more were choosing to stay put, rather than explore other opportunities.
Pockets of concern existed, in common with other district health boards.
Medical radiation technologists' and sonographers' positions were hard to fill.
The most recent report to the hospital advisory committee showed there were more than five vacancies in this area.
Thirty-five registered nursing positions were not filled and 14 specialist positions were vacant, although some of these specialist positions were expected to be filled by the end of the year.
Mrs Blake said she monitored recruitment and vacancy levels almost daily.
She said it was unlikely to affect the taking on of resident medical officers (junior doctors) because of the roster requirements.
