Anthony de Winton is a changed boy – his language has improved, he’s pain free, and he’s much happier following free ENT surgery from Braemar Charitable Trust.
Anthony, who is nearly two and a half, had suffered since he was four months old with constant ear infections and sore throats. He was deemed high priority for ENT surgery and needed grommets inserted, plus adenoids and tonsils removed, but the wait list at Waikato Hospital is about two years.
Mum Olivia recognised the signs of Anthony’s developmental delay early on. His speech development was delayed and he was constantly sick and pulling at his ears and hair because of the pain. “He basically lived on antibiotics, and we’ve had so many admissions to Waikato Hospital in the past 18 months.”
Olivia is a healthcare assistant at Braemar Hospital and knew that the hospital’s owner, Braemar Charitable Trust, might be able to help. The Trust provides free surgeries in some cases where patients have been declined care or face very long wait times and they don’t have the financial means to pay for private surgery. Surgeons and anaesthetists donate their time, and the Trust pays for associated costs, provided by the hospital at cost.
“I knew we’d still be waiting for a long time at Waikato Hospital as they are under so much pressure, and all the time I was worried about Anthony’s delay in developing at such a crucial time in his life,” Olivia says. “A Waikato Hospital specialist helped with the referral, explaining that Anthony’s needs were urgent and that we’d already been waiting a long time.”
Olivia says she can’t believe the speed at which the Trust operates. “The referral was sent through on the Friday to the Trust, I heard back early the following week, and we had a surgery date within a week. It was unbelievably fast.”
She says she cannot speak highly enough of the surgeon, Julian White, and the anaesthetist, Hugh Douglas. “Anthony was quite anxious and had become terrified of hospitals. But this was all so smooth; he wasn’t even petrified. Every step of the way was really caring and thoughtful.”
And the support hasn’t stopped after Anthony’s procedures in July. “Julian remains in touch by text and wants to see Anthony for a follow up. I cannot fault their care at all – there has been constant contact and wrap-around support, like a warm hug, along the whole journey.”
Anthony improved dramatically after the ENT surgery, speaking more fully and able to hear and respond to his mum. She says his daycare facility commented very quickly on the improvement. “It has literally changed his life and at such a crucial time in his development. He’s basically forming full sentences now and I can understand him. His pronunciation has changed because he can hear, and he even said his own name last week. I can’t thank the Trust and the specialists enough.”
Olivia has worked at Braemar Hospital for more than three years and says it’s an amazing and caring environment. “We have our principles at Braemar Hospital, BCOMP, which is all about being compassionate and caring for people. It’s really reflected in our work environment and in the Trust – they are amazing organisations.”
Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker says the Trust is unique in that it owns a private hospital, and can contribute pragmatically to help the wider health system, particularly around timeliness of care. Taking people off public waiting lists also has a multiplier effect as every person helped elsewhere means another person on the list can be seen more quickly.
The Trust is the 100% owner of Braemar Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in New Zealand and its vison is to improve health access and equity. Specialists (surgeons and anaesthetists) must be credentialed to provide procedures at Braemar and many support the Trust by donating their theatre time for free surgeries.
The Community Surgery Programme is its flagship programme, but it has a range of activities that deliver on its charitable purpose to advance healthcare equity and access and improve health outcomes in our community. Braemar Hospital pays an annual dividend to the Trust so it can undertake activities.
In the most recent financial year ended 31 March 2025, Braemar Charitable Trust enabled 159 free surgeries for those in need, an increase of 124% on the previous year. The Trust spent $88,000 on associated costs but estimates these surgeries and procedures would have cost $500,000 in real terms.
Already in the first four months of this financial year, the Trust has spent $36,000 on 61 free surgeries and procedures performed by specialists adding free surgeries to their existing Braemar Hospital surgery lists, or through community-based initiatives. These surgeries and procedures happen year-round as part of the Trust’s kaupapa of advancing health equity and access.
Braemar Charitable Trust has also made it simple for anyone to donate to its work via an online donations portal where donors can choose to fund a specific procedure.
To find out more about the Trust, sign up here for news and updates.
Caption:
Ready for surgery: Anthony de Winton and mum Olivia on Anthony’s ENT surgery day at Braemar Hospital.
ENDS
Media inquiries – not for publication. For more information contact:
Paula Baker MNZM
Trust Manager, Braemar Charitable Trust
027 224 2316
