Wellington's debt-plagued Capital and Coast District Health Board faces a $3 million bill for deferred building maintenance work.
Managers told a board meeting on Wednesday they are still assessing the actual cost of lack of building maintenance at the Newtown hospital site over many years.
Board members were told a lack of spending on maintenance means the DHB is experiencing declining reliability and stability of services.
At issue are the ward and clinical services blocks which are part of the new regional hospital to be opened soon at the Newtown site.
Managers said the clinical services block has been cordoned off because of falling concrete.
They said the DHB must do the building maintenance work and is talking to the Ministry of Health about where the funding will come from.
The board has a projected $69 million deficit.
