Media Release

19 February 2007

DHB Finances continue financial year on strong note

The Ministry of Health continues to see evidence that District Health Boards are generally managing their financial performance well.

The combined results for the second quarter of the financial year which finishes at the end of June 2007 show that DHBs’ actual deficits are better than planned by $12.9M.

The total planned deficit for the quarter to December is $17.6M. The actual deficit is $4.7M.

The total planned deficits for the year ending June 2007 include a carry-forward of surpluses from previous years which were unspent, and in this year will show as a deficit due to accounting practice.

Year to date financial information is available on the Ministry of Health’s website at http://www.moh.govt.nz/dhbfp (and select 'Reports').

Please attribute any comments to Ministry of Health, DHB Funding and Performance, Manager Finance John Hazeldine.

For more information contact: Peter Abernethy, ph: 04-496-2689