More criticism for the beleaguered Southern District Health Board and the funding it receives from the Government.

This time the criticism is coming from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, which believes a forced funding cut will put jobs on the line.

It says nurses, families and communities around Otago and Southland may soon be without jobs and quality healthcare services, due to a forced five percent budget cut.

Organiser Mike Yeats claims this is an attack on rural and regional health services, and these cuts are a direct result of the DHB's growing budget blowouts.

eats says the NZNO is looking to meet with the DHB's leaders in an attempt to create a strategy to oppose the funding cuts.