The Southern District Health Board's deficit for the past financial year has grown to more than $15 million.
Two months ago, the board put a freeze on hiring non-medical staff and restricted other spending when the deficit suddenly blew out beyond the expected $9 million.
Papers to a Southern DHB's board meeting show it is now projecting an end-of-financial-year deficit of $15.7 million.
The DHB's biggest overspends are on doctors' allowances, hospital drug-buying and home-based disability support services.