Southland Charity Hospital celebrates one year in operation

A charity hospital fulfilling a Southland man's dying wish to provide equal healthcare for cancer patients has marked its first year of operation.

The Southern Charity Hospital in Invercargill, sparked by Blair Vining's vision, was fulfilled by his widow after years of fundraising and construction work.

Blair Vining died of bowel cancer in 2019 at the age of 39.

In the first year of operation, the hospital has delivered 69 colonoscopies and 35 dental procedures with the help of 18 medical professionals, including surgeons, nurses and dentists from across the country.

It has also received more than $200,000 worth of donations in the past year from family trusts for operational and equipment costs, as well as free accommodation for visiting volunteer staff through the Invercargill Licensing Trust.

Southern Charity Hospital founder Melissa Vining told 1News, "Everyone's just been so generous with their money, time and expertise; the whole community [has been] working together to improve the outcomes for those living in the Southern region.”

Sonia Chaney, who had previously donated to its construction through the Buy-A-Brick scheme, was among the many southerners to benefit from the hospital's services.

"My last colonoscopy had been four and a half years, so we were on the rotation… so I was well overdue," she said.

Chaney said she was "one of the lucky ones" to get the call for a colonoscopy.

“I got a phone call from Southland Hospital asking if my details could be passed on to the charity hospital and I was definitely for that,” she said.

Another patient, Dana McStay, was able to get off the public hospital wait list for dental treatment after medication for a brain tumour began affecting her teeth over time.

"I was so proud of myself because I achieved something after my traumatic trauma of a brain tumour and knowing that my teeth are now going to get fixed," she said.

"Now I can put that lovely smile back on my face!"

While Melissa Vining is pleased with how the first year has gone, she is well aware there is a lot more work to do.

“The goal hasn't changed from my perspective, which is there's no need for a charity hospital. I believe that we all pay taxes and we all deserve to have fair access to healthcare, regardless of where we live or if we have money,” she said.

Patients have given back, too – McStay cleans the hospital for free once a week, while Chaney helps with fundraising efforts.

Chaney said they are "so, so lucky and fortunate to have this in Southland".

"This is saving lives and it's giving people peace of mind that they can come in and have their things that they need done in a timely manner.”

Candace Bangura, who joined as general manager of the charity hospital shortly after it opened, was overwhelmed at "seeing the community really continue to be behind the hospital".

"To me, it is the beating heart of Southern Charity Hospital."

Medical professionals continue to be flown in from near and far to volunteer their time.

Taranaki-based Dr Nigel Henderson, who was born in Southland, offered his time in the past week to help perform colonoscopies.

"The important thing is that we look after the people of our country safely and that's all we're here for. We just want to do a safe, effective job; get our community looked after; and make sure that healthcare is not an unmet need anymore," he said.

Southland Hospital general manager Simon Donlevy said it has "a positive collaborative relationship with the Southern Charity Hospital".

"For all services where we have either referred patients or utilised the facility to allow for patients to be seen has had a positive impact on the respective waiting lists for those services."

Donlevy added that there had been a "limited number" of patients who had received a colonoscopy at the charity hospital where the waiting time "exceeded the clinically appropriate time frame".

"We are very happy with our ongoing positive relationship with the Charity Hospital and can only admire the work that the Charity Hospital is undertaking to address needs in our community that are not able to be met within the public health system."

The charity hospital has big plans for the future – including the addition of carpal tunnel operations to the service schedule.

Melissa Vining said she has the "pretty ambitious" goal of delivering 600 procedures in the coming year.

“So, we'll need lots of support from medical professionals… If there are medical professionals out there who have an interest in having a nice time in Invercargill, please reach out and if there are people that would like to support us financially to be able to extend out those services, donations are welcome.”