“This will change my life.”
That was the feedback from a patient who received a free procedure as part of Braemar Charitable Trust’s recent community surgery day.
The community surgery day, which took place at Braemar Hospital on Saturday 13 September, saw 32 eligible patients receive free procedures, including gynaecological, dental, and paediatric and adult general surgery – all as part of the Trust’s goal to increase access to healthcare for those who need it most.
This brings the total number of people assisted through the Trust from 1 April 2025 to 115.
Braemar Charitable Trust has been providing free surgeries since it was established in 1970, though the past two years has seen this ramp up significantly as the Trust has grown its offerings to respond to increasing demand. Patients who are eligible for referral are those who have been declined or are unable to access timely care through the public health system and who don’t have health insurance or ACC cover, nor the financial means to pay privately.
Trust Manager Paula Baker says the community surgery day, now in its second year of running, is a dedicated opportunity to enable many patients to have their surgery, thanks to the collective efforts of those who volunteer on a Saturday.
“The success of the day, and the wider community surgery programme, relies entirely on the wonderful surgeons and anaesthetists who volunteer their time and expertise, Braemar Hospital staff and partner health providers, and other volunteer supporters who come along to support on the day.”
She says the feedback from those who volunteered and the patients who were treated was “incredible.”
“Chatting to everyone on the day, both clinical staff and the patients and their families, was just amazing. The clinicians were really proud to be there, and the patients and their families were thankful and relieved to be able to access treatment some had been waiting a very long time to receive.”
Paediatric surgeon and urologist Dr Askar Kukkady was among the specialists volunteering at Braemar on Saturday, and says for the patients he treated, surgery couldn’t come soon enough.
“My main reason for volunteering was to help those who have been on a waiting list for a long time. Some patients, including children, have been waiting for more than a year to get an operation, and that is unacceptable.
“To be able to see them as part of the community surgery programme will enable them to go back to living their lives pain free and without the risk of their condition getting worse the longer it is left untreated, and potentially having to look at larger, more complex surgeries in the future.”
Braemar Charitable Trust Chair Vicky McLennan says the community surgery day, and indeed the wider community surgery programme shows what can happen when like minds get together to effect change and make a measurable impact on health outcomes.
“The strength of our community surgery offering is very much in the sum of its parts. We are privileged to work alongside community health providers to identify areas of unmet and unseen need and seek referrals from GPs and specialists across our region, so we can be responsive to the needs of our community.
“At the heart of it all is a commitment to change lives and enhance health equity and access. Our relationships, and the ability to utilise Braemar Hospital on a Saturday, are key to making this happen and as a Trust we are extremely grateful to have the support of those who share our vision.”
The Trust owns Hamilton’s Braemar Hospital and applies the dividends it receives to undertake activities to deliver on its charitable purpose. Alongside the support of community-based funders such as the John and Glenice Gallagher Foundation and DV Bryant Trust, and procedures performed for free by surgeons and anaesthetists, the Trust can fund free community surgeries for people who meet its criteria. The Trust also funds health related research and health sector capability building, including scholarships for University of Waikato nursing and health students.
September’s free surgeries included dental and general surgery, colonoscopies, gynaecology, and children’s ENT procedures such as grommets, tonsils and adenoids.
The community surgery day was also made possible by the generous support of the Mobile Dental Clinic, South City Pharmacy and the Clare Foundation.
Image: Volunteer clinical staff prepping in theatre ahead of Community Surgery Day - from left, Armand Casantosan, Raj Desi, Kate Wilson, Una Tang, Marvin Landrito
