Extra money will have to be dished out by the already cash-strapped Southern District Health Board as there are delays taking place in the release of $24.38 million that were promised for capital works funding from the Ministry of Health.

Not completing project’s design work is the reason cited for the hold-up but according to board staff, engaging electrical engineers and architects is not possible on the project as of now.

The situation was given the tem chicken-and-egg scenario by board facilities and site development manager Warren Taylor.

The 16-project redevelopment of Wakari and Dunedin Hospitals will finish in 2013 December that means a period of six months more than expected.

For Wakari and Dunedin Hospitals, $24.38 million for the first part of the board's master site project, was announced by Health Minister Tony Ryall. This project intends to upgrade substandard facilities.

Board statements last year expressed that the money was expected to get released as soon as the minister signed district plan.

Contractors were ready to get ahead with the project’s work since the end of September but that did not happen.