A spokesperson for the Greater Western said the shire was “one of those creditors” not paid by the 45-day benchmark set by NSW Health.

However, plans were afoot to reimburse the shire for “refuse collection, rates and water rates”.

“Money owed to Parkes Shire is scheduled for payment this Thursday,” she said.

The spokesperson provided on request a monthly update on the Greater Western’s debt level.

“The area’s total creditors have reduced by approximately $6 million on the month of June 2009,” she said. “As at 31st July 2009 the area’s creditors outside of department of health benchmark stands at less than two per cent of the total Greater Western Area Health Service budget of $510.143 million.”

The spokesperson later confirmed that the current debt level was much the same as a month ago.

On July 1 the Greater Western reported its debt was less than 2 per cent of its budget with the Daily Liberal calculating that creditors were about $10.2 million out of pocket.

The figure was down from $13.4 million in early June, albeit higher than $9.2 million reported in late May.

Public interest in the Greater Western’s ability to pay its bills piqued late last year after NSW health minister John Della Bosca admitted its debt stood at $60 million amid an outcry from local businesses and clinicians for remedial action.

Money was poured into the Greater Western that continues to struggle to operate within budget.

The spokesperson yesterday reiterated efforts to reduce spending.

“The area is in the process of reviewing processes and developing strategies that will allow the easement of cash and payment of accounts in the future months,” she said.

They include partnering with other area health services in areas such as the provision of training, access to information management technology and pathology services.

“Greater Western Health is also working to identify areas where activity is low in some of its smaller facilities and redirecting the funds to the larger and busier ones,” the spokesperson said.