Dr Graham Sharpe and Vito Lo lacono talked about the Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital which is a purpose-built day surgery hospital for the Wellington region, providing free procedures to people who would otherwise not be able to access treatment.
Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital
The Vision
“Access to timely healthcare can change lives. This project is a remarkable example of people coming together to help others with dignity and compassion”. – Dame Patsy Reddy, Patron
Introduction
The Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital is a purpose-built day surgery hospital for the Wellington region, providing free procedures to people who cannot access public healthcare in a timely way and cannot afford private treatment.
The hospital is only becoming possible because of the extraordinary generosity of a small group of benefactors, led by Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dame Dorothy Spotswood, together with supporters, volunteers, clinicians and businesses who believe healthcare should be accessible to everyone.
The hospital will operate independently of Government funding. Its operation will rely on community support, donations, and the extraordinary contribution of volunteer surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and healthcare professionals donating their time and expertise.
What is being built:
- Two modern operation theatres
- Specialist day-surgery facility in central Wellington
- High clinical and safety standards
- Independent charitable hospital
- Serving Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, the same regional spread as Wellington Free Ambulance
What has already been achieved:
- Lease signed and premises secured
- Building consent approved
- Fit-out underway
- More than 45 surgeons and anaesthetists volunteering
- Significant support from Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dame Dorothy Spotswood
- 100’s of thousands of dollars of donated professional services, equipment and support
- Strong support from clinicians, businesses and community organisations
Some examples of the Operations
- Bunion operations
- Cervical screening
- Bowel screening
- Cataract surgery
The new facility aims to perform 1,000-2,000 day-case surgeries annually, starting in 2027, with a $13 million setup cost and $1.5 million annual operating expenses. Funding gaps of $800,000 and $3.5 million for equipment are still to be addressed. The project has secured a favourable lease on Cuba Street.
Dr. Graham Sharpe, a retired clinical head of Anaesthesia, is the Chair of the initiative and is supported by business advisor Vito Lo Iacono, now the CEO.