Braemar Charitable Trust partnered with Te Kōhao Health recently for a clinic helping patients at the kaupapa Māori health provider in Hamilton.
Surgeon and Trust board member Jasen Ly ran the half-day haemorrhoid banding clinic in late June at the Taakiri Tuu Wellness and Diagnostic Centre owned by Te Kōhao Health.
Mr Ly donated his time to provide the procedures while at the same time training a Te Kōhao GP, Dr Tipene Wairepo. Together they treated seven patients and were assisted by Braemar Hospital nurse Jenny Hantler, who also donated her time. Three of the patients will need further, more complex surgery and will be referred to Braemar Charitable Trust’s Community Surgery Programme.
Dr Wairepo says the clinic responded to a real need. “Haemorrhoids are a common problem for our whānau,” he says. “There’s just limited capacity in the secondary system to deal with these conditions. Days like today not only improve access but also allow us to share knowledge and treat people in a safe and comfortable environment. That makes a huge difference.” Watch Dr Wairepo and Mr Ly talk about the day.
Braemar Charitable Trust owns Braemar Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in New Zealand, and delivers a range of charitable activities, including community surgeries, to advance healthcare equity and access to improve health outcomes in our community.
In the most recent financial year, the Trust has enabled nearly 160 free surgeries for those who had been turned down by the public system or faced very long wait-times. Many surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialed to work at Braemar Hospital donate their time, free. Braemar Hospital provides consumable items at cost, and the Trust covers other costs such as surgical items, consumables, drugs and nursing care.
Trust Manager Paula Baker says Braemar has strong partnerships around the region, including Te Kōhao Health. “We are glad to be standing with those who work hard to ensure our communities get the help they need.”
The surgery day at Te Kōhao has reduced wait times for their patients and brought much-needed healthcare access closer to those who need it.
“Our mahi at the Trust is all about enhancing equity and access to healthcare for our communities. Our aim is to be pragmatic and that means putting our people on the ground to help others. Jasen Ly is a strong supporter of our community surgery work, and we are grateful he continues to donate his time to help others.”
Other support for the clinic at Te Kōhao included Braemar Hospital providing the equipment needed to run this clinic at cost to Braemar Charitable Trust. Te Kōhao patients treated at the clinic also received a take-home bag containing breast, bowel and cervical screening and oral health information; free samples of soap, lip balm and plasters gifted by South City Pharmacy; and kids and adults’ toothbrushes and toothpaste along with other freebies.
Braemar Charitable Trust has a wide range of activities it funds and runs, all with the ultimate aim of helping boost health outcomes in the Waikato region. The Trust provides free surgeries, scholarships, health training and pays for medical research in the region among other things. It spent $230,000 in the most recent financial year on its charitable activities.
The Trust receives dividends from Braemar Hospital to help with its work and also has an online donation platform where people can donate to fund specific surgeries and procedures for patients in the community. Access the donation platform here or to find out more, sign up here for news and updates
Caption:
Helping out: Pictured from left at the banding clinic: Braemar Hospital theatre nurse Jenny Hantler, Te Kōhao Health GP Dr Tipene Wairepo, and Braemar Charitable Trust board member and surgeon Jasen Ly.
ENDS
Media inquiries – not for publication. For more information contact:
Paula Baker MNZM
Trust Manager, Braemar Charitable Trust
027 224 2316
