Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust
New Zealand Community of the Year
2018
Mitre 10
New Zealand Community of the Year
Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau
Provides surgery and medical care to people who are not able to access treatment through the public hospital system and have no financial means to use private services.
The services provided includes a wide range of surgical procedures (gynaecology, general surgery, orthopaedics, endoscopy etc), dentistry (for WinZ clients), as well as counselling and psychotherapy support.
Unique in NZ under leadership of Mr Phil Bagshaw it has built team of specialists who donate time & expertise for patients across Canterbury. The unpaid specialists are supported by many volunteers including nurses, technicians, receptionists and fund raisers.
Since its doors opened 10 years ago, the Trust has received no government funding. It relies on donations, bequests, local business support. Most of every dollar donated (83 cents) goes directly to patient care.
It has grown from a single day surgery unit in 2007 to a complex of 3 two storey buildings housing 2 theatres with recovery wards, consulting rooms, twin oral surgery unit, endoscopy unit, education and community meeting rooms, which are used gratis by other community groups.
