The new team in charge of the Southern District Health Board is travelling the region to assess facilities and liaise with staff.

Commissioner Kathy Grant and deputy commissioners Graham Crombie and Richard Thomson will spend two weeks touring Otago and Southland.

They're tasked with making sure the health board can maintain necessary services while reducing its huge financial deficit.

The board's forecast deficit for the new financial year is more than $40m.

Combined, the three-person team is being paid $3200 a day.