The types of procedures typically covered by the Community Surgery Programme include children's ENT procedures, specialist paediatric dental surgery and adult oral surgery requiring a general anaesthetic, minor plastics (skin lesion removals, carpel tunnel, painful lipomas), general (hernia, gall bladder, PR bleeding) and laparoscopic surgeries, echocardiograms and some gynaecological surgeries. We are not able to provide knee, hip or shoulder orthopaedic surgeries.
When a referral is made to the Community Surgery programme, both the patient and the referrer will be asked to verify the patient meets all of the criteria and conditions of the programme.
Eligibility criteria
The patient has been declined the procedure or has little chance of having the procedure performed within a reasonable time frame in the public system.
They do not have private medical insurance or employer-subsidised medical insurance.
They do not have the financial means, nor can they access funds to pay for the procedure in the private system.
ACC will not cover payment for any part of their treatment, including either elective surgery or treatment injury provisions.
The GP must also provide a detailed referral letter providing full medical history of the patient, why they believe the patient should be considered for the Community Surgery Programme and the benefit having the procedure will have on the patient.
Approving referrals
The decision whether a patient is eligible to receive a free elective procedure under the Braemar Charitable Trust Community Surgery Programme will be determined by the Trust and is subject to available funds and surgeon availability. Where procedures are in high demand, the Trust will prioritise complex cases where patients face multiple barriers to accessing treatment.
Referrals can be made by Specialists, General Practitioners, Dentists and Nurse Practitioners and must include sufficiently detailed medical notes so an assessment can be made prior to approval.
The referrer must:
Provide a covering letter stating why the patient should be considered for assistance through the Community Surgery Programme.
Complete all parts of the form, sign and return with covering letter to the Trust Manager, Braemar Charitable Trust: admin@braemartrust.co.nz
All information provided is collected and used in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, Health Information Privacy Code 2020 and the Braemar Charitable Trust Privacy Statement.
