Christchurch Hospital's deficit baloons

Christchurch Hospital is scrutinising its spending after its deficit increased by more than $2 million in the past three months, ballooning to $8.4 million.

In February, the hospital announced it was running $6 million over budget, despite an earlier pledge to save $3 million this financial year.

Operations manager Ruth Barclay blamed the higher deficit on increasing nursing costs, and a rise in the cost of blood products, oncology drugs and cardiology treatments.