Wellington Hospitals Foundation celebrates 20 years of impact

Source: CCDHB

When serious illness or injury strikes, nothing matters more than knowing our loved ones will receive the best possible hospital care.

November marks the 20 year anniversary for Wellington Hospitals Foundation as the official charity partner for Health New Zealand, proudly supporting the region’s public hospitals across Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.

Founded in 2005, the Foundation has supported transformational projects like Te Wao Nui Children’s Hospital, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood and a $10 million public fundraising campaign. It has also helped fund life changing medical
equipment and supported hundreds of other important projects to improve patient care and experience across the region.

Guy Ryan, Foundation CEO says, “We all know that access to healthcare is a critical need in our community. From the 590+ volunteers who give their time every single week, to the generous donors who support our fundraising campaigns, to the incredible healthcare professionals delivering round the clock care in our hospitals – there are many people and organisations to thank as we reflect on the Foundation’s 20 years and the difference we’ve made together.”

Since its establishment, Wellington Hospitals Foundation has facilitated more than $160 million in community support from individuals, organisations and partners, and supported projects to benefit patients of all ages.

Other landmark projects include funding for lifesaving diagnostic and surgical technology, such as a new MRI Scanner and co-funding a 3D Mammogram machine, which help medical teams deliver faster, more accurate care to patients across the region.

The Foundation has also invested heavily in medical innovation and training through Wellington Regional Hospital’s world class Simulation and Skills Centre. The purchase of lifelike medical manikins and hi-fidelity simulators allows hospital teams to practise rare and complex emergency scenarios – from cardiac arrests to neonatal resuscitation – in a safe, controlled environment.

Another milestone project, the Air Ambulance Flight Simulator, offers specialist training for doctors and nurses working in air retrieval medicine. Funded by the Foundation’s generous donors, this full-scale simulator replicates the cramped, turbulent conditions of a real aircraft, allowing medical staff to train for any inflight care. It has transformed the way air teams prepare for high pressure situations and is now used as a national training tool.

Other equipment and technology.
While government funding provides the essentials, community donations have equipped our hospitals with cutting edge technology that helps diagnose, treat and save lives every single day.

Highlights include:

Over $3 million invested in NICU equipment, including flight transport and general incubators.
Establishment of the region’s first NICU human milkbank, safely processing donor breastmilk for fragile premature babies
Cooling systems that help reduce the risk of brain injury in newborns
Diagnostic equipment for Wellington Regional Hospital’s Child Protection Unit to help with trauma sensitive examinations for young victims
Comfortable, ergonomic chairs for people undergoing cancer treatment
3D printing facilities that support medical training, research and innovation
Anatomical models and educational tools to help clinicians explain complex procedures to patients and their whānau.

And so much more.

Compassion in action.

While the Foundation has helped deliver many transformational projects, it’s often the smaller things that make the greatest difference day to day.

Over two decades, community donations have funded hundreds of meaningful initiatives including:

Patient care packs for people who find themselves unexpectedly in hospital
Welcoming family spaces with therapeutic art installations
Inkless stamp kits for grieving parents
Fans to help patients nearing the end of their life breathe more easily
Toys and other items that comfort and distract children during difficult or scary procedures
Thousands of pyjamas that help keep children warm and well during winter.

The Foundation has also supported some exciting heritage projects along the way, including preserving the Historic Royal Doulton tiles, maintaining the connection to Wellington’s first children’s hospital (built in 1912) through the Royal Doulton Tile Gallery.

Volunteers at the heart of our hospitals.

The Foundation’s contribution is not only financial. Its 590+ dedicated volunteers give more than 64,000 hours of service each year, offering warmth, guidance and reassurance to patients and visitors across Wellington Regional, Kenepuru and Hutt Hospitals.
From helping families navigate hospital corridors to offering a comforting presence at a bedside, volunteers are at the heart of our hospital community.

A community like no other

Wellington Hospitals Foundation supports patients of all ages across:

Wellington Regional Hospital
Kenepuru Hospital
Hutt Hospital
Te Wao Nui Child Health Service
Kapiti Health Centre
Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS)

Together, with the generosity of donors and partners the Foundation continues to bridge the gap between what public funding provides and what exceptional care truly requires.
“Healthcare would still be funded if we didn’t exist, but it wouldn’t be the same. Our donors make sure that care in our hospitals is not only exceptional, but also compassionate, comfortable and has the human touch.” explains Ryan.

The difference our community makes

$160 million invested in hospital projects
$10 million raised to outfit Te Wao Nui Children’s Hospital.
590 volunteers supporting patients and whānau
53,295 volunteer hours contributed in the past year
57,000+ people assisted by volunteer hospital guides last year
96 sick babies came from around the country for specialist NICU care last year

As the Foundation celebrates two decades of support, it continues to look ahead, working with front facing hospital teams to identify emerging needs and respond swiftly where help is needed most.

“Every day we see the difference our community makes. From cutting edge technology that saves lives, to simple comforts that make a hospital stay easier” says Ryan. “For 20 years, our community has helped our hospitals go beyond great care. We know the healthcare budget is under enormous pressure and there is still so much more to do so that our hospital teams have the tools, training and spaces they need to respond to whatever comes through their doors. Together, we are building a stronger more resilient health system – one that puts people first.”

To support the public hospitals in our region please donate at whf.org.nz.