Results refer to actual values.
Quarterly results
The total DHB deficit was $4.7 million in the December 2006 quarter. This was $3.5 million lower than the $8.2 million deficit in the September 2006 quarter, and significantly lower than the $21.8 million and $30.3 million deficits recorded during the December 2005 and December 2004 quarters, respectively.
When compared with the previous quarter, total DHB expenses increased by $20.1 million, to reach $2,476.2 million in the December 2006 quarter. The two major components were: operating expenditure by hospital and health service providers (HHS) at $1,395.9 million (down 0.3 percent); and the purchase of medical services by non-government providers and inter-DHB services at $1,068.2 million (up 2.3 percent).
Total operating expenses were up $88.9 million (6.8 percent) compared with the December 2005 quarter.
In the December 2006 quarter, total DHB revenue increased to $2,471.4 million, up $23.5 million (1 percent) from the September 2006 quarter. Funding from the Ministry of Health increased by $28.2 million, to reach $2,080.5 million in the December 2006 quarter. Other funding from government, which includes inter-DHB receipts, declined by $5.3 million to reach $276.8 million.
Total revenue increased by $195.8 million (8.6 percent) compared with the December 2005 quarter.
Equity and liabilities
Total equity and liabilities increased to $4,695.1 million at the end of the December 2006 quarter. Liability levels were up $136.6 million to $2,805.9 million. Total liabilities consisted of current liabilities at $1,648.4 million (up $138 million compared with the September 2006 quarter), mainly due to additional borrowing to fund redevelopment; long-term loans at $1,059.3 million (up $0.2 million); and other term liabilities at $98.2 million (down $1.6 million).
The increase in liabilities during the December 2006 quarter has been largely offset by the increase in the value of total assets, with a consequent increase in taxpayers' equity in DHBs to $1,889.2 million. As a result, the debt to equity ratio has risen this quarter, up from 1.42 in the September 2006 quarter to 1.49 in the December 2006 quarter.
Assets
The total value of DHB assets at 31 December 2006, was up 3.2 percent ($146.6 million) compared with 30 September 2006. Increases were recorded in the value of all asset categories: other current assets (up $76 million), mainly due to funding from increased borrowing; fixed assets (up $55.5 million), mainly due to work in progress; investments (up $13.6 million); and inventories (up $1.4 million). Additions to fixed assets were up 10.6 percent ($108.2 million) compared with the September 2006 quarter.
Revisions
This release incorporates audited data relating to the June 2006 year. As a result, there have been revisions to the June 2006 quarter statistics. There have been no revisions to any previous quarters.
For technical information contact:
Johan van der Schyff
Wellington 04 931 4600
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
This DHB release will be the last published by Statistics New Zealand. For future reference, kindly refer to the Ministry of Health's website. For more information see the Technical notes of this release.