NHS Highland is still millions of pounds in the red following a financial debacle that saw the board forced to go cap in hand to the Scottish Government.
Holyrood’s public audit committee heard that the financial situation at Raigmore Hospital “remains challenging”, although improvements have been made.
Experts suggested the hospital will overspend by more than £6million this year – despite introducing a raft of cuts in a bid to save money.
Stephen Boyle, assistant director at Audit Scotland, said: “The financial environment for Raigmore remains challenging.
“Even the most recent financial projections suggest they are still looking at an overspend of £6million for the year.
“In the context of not quite making the savings last year and the financial environment still remaining challenging it remains the case that the hospital – given its dominance in the spend of the board – will remain (in a) challenging (position).”
It emerged at the end of last year that NHS Highland would have to take out an emergency loan from the Scottish Government in order to balance the books after spending spiralled out of control.
Among the main cost pressures cited by the board was a £3.3million bill for medical locum cover and a forecast overspend of £5.1million on medical and dental staff.
Fraser McKinlay, director of performance audit and best value, said that the board had made improvements, but that there was still work to be done.
He told MSPs yesterday: “Since you had your inquiry, NHS Highland has developed a recovery plan, which detailed how they expected to address projected shortfalls and achieve its break even position.
“The committee will also be aware that the Scottish Government brought forward £3million of the national resource allocation money in January to help the board reach a break even position.
“Based on our review of the work undertaken by the board, the auditor concluded that NHS Highland has strengthened its financial management and the scrutiny of financial performance.
“In 2014/15, NHS Highland achieved its two financial targets breaking even against its capital and revenue budgets and 40% of savings made in year were on a recurring basis.
“Raigmore did reduce its budget overspend to £6.9million but this did fall short of the £6 million target which adds to the continuing pressure the board experiences this year.”
NHS Highland recently announced it was preparing a “contingency plan” as it battles to balance the books.