The Labour Party thinks an intervention is on the cards for the financially troubled Southern District Health Board.

MP Annette King's obtained a paper she says indicates the Ministry of Health is giving its Minister advice about the DHB's governance arrangements.

"There are not many options in government arrangements. You have a board or you don't have a board and so it is a matter of what does the Minister intend to do with a DHB that is now looking at a $42 million deficit."