The Canterbury Charity Hospital: An update (2010-2012) and effects of the earthquakes

Aim To update activities of the Canterbury Charity Hospital (CCH) and its Trust over the 3 years 2010-2012, during which the devastating Christchurch earthquakes occurred. Methods Patients' treatments, establishment of new services, expansion of the CCH, staffing and finances were reviewed. Results Previously established services including general surgery continued as before, some services such as ophthalmology declined, and new services were established including colonoscopy, dentistry and some gynaecological procedures; counselling was provided following the earthquakes. Teaching and research endeavours increased. An adjacent property was purchased and renovated to accommodate the expansion. The Trust became financially self-sustaining in 2010; annual running costs of $340,000/year were maintained but were anticipated to increase soon. Of the money generously donated by the community to the Trust, 82% went directly to patient care. Although not formally recorded, hundreds of appointment request were rejected because of service unavailability or unmet referral criteria. Conclusions This 3-year review highlights substantial, undocumented unmet healthcare needs in the region, which were exacerbated by the 2010/2011 earthquakes. We contend that the level of unmet healthcare in Canterbury and throughout the country should be regularly documented to inform planning of public healthcare services. © NZMA.