Meeting needs
WORDS Liam Stretch
In founder Phil Bagshaw’s mind, the Canterbury Charity Hospital shouldn’t need to exist. But as the cost of living increases and challenges persist in affecting the public system, the Charity Hospital continues to cater to otherwise unmet needs.
The Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust was established by the community, for the community in 2007 and is now made up of five buildings on the corner of Harewood Road and Leacroft Street.
Within its walls are state-of-the-art services and equipment made only possible by its uniqueness. The Canterbury Charity Hospital receives no government funding, despite its 20 years of successfully providing lifesaving and life-improving surgeries and procedures for over 30,000 patients.
The hospital is mostly staffed by volunteers, with doctors and nurses providing their skills for free – some even use their annual leave to assist at the hospital.
Thanks to this, the hospital can provide services to patients who may not meet public health requirements or don’t have health insurance, beneficiaries, and the working poor.
Currently, the hospital offers services in colonoscopy/endoscopy, dentistry, dermatology, dietetics, eye surgery, general surgery, gynaecology, women’s health, family planning, oral surgery, orthopaedics, and urology.
At present, the greatest need they see at the hospital is endoscopy. Currently, the national bowel screening programme is only available to those between the ages of 60 and 74; the Charity Hospital has been offering endoscopies for rectal bleeders aged 50 and under since 2017 and recently increased that cap to 55.
This has meant the hospital has provided a lifesaving service for many younger people with colorectal cancers or those with pre-cancerous issues.
Rosie Graham, the hospital’s fundraising coordinator, says they caught two possible cancers recently.
Rosie says beyond these surgeries and procedures fulfilling the immediate unmet needs of patients, they also aim to increase confidence. For example, their dermatologists treat severe acne scars in young people who wouldn’t be eligible in the public health system, and the hospital also provides dental treatments and oral surgery.
It takes money to run a hospital effectively, maintaining the highest possible standards for patients.
The Canterbury Charity Hospital needs over a million dollars a year to function. Thanks to its volunteers, the running costs and fixed costs make up very little of the overall bill, with 82 per cent of every dollar raised going to patient care.
Though always accepting donations, the hospital is hosting its annual Gala Dinner and Dance to help them reach their fundraising target.
This year’s gala is held at the city’s Christchurch Transitional Cathedral on 24 November. Past MC Mark Hadlow is returning to bring his wit and charm to the evening alongside a three-course dinner, wine and beer, live music, and dancing.
Bringing further excitement to the evening will be a live auction, and Rosie assures us that the items on the lot will be sure to get people bidding. If the gala is out of reach to you, the hospital accepts donations in any form, even your time as a volunteer.
For tickets to the gala and more information, go to charityhospital.org.nz