Date announced for Charity Hospital Christmas Cabaret

Date announced for Charity Hospital Christmas Cabaret

We are excited to announce that a date has been set for this year’s Charity Hospital Christmas Cabaret – Friday 2 December 2016.

Generously supported with a delicious dinner by Verve Catering and event management by Suzanne at  Event Professionals, the cabaret will  celebrate all of our amazing volunteers and the work that they do for the Canterbury Charity Hospital.  We are very grateful to the Mauger family for again letting us hold the event at  Maugers Innovation Park in Templeton..

To pre-register for this event and be the first to know when ticket sales are available, email rosie@charityhospital.org.nz. Tickets are limited and cost $160 per guest or $1600 for a table of 10..

New oral surgery on its way

New oral surgery on its way

353 Harewood Road

Our current dental service has been very successful and other volunteers have recently offered their service to the community including dental technicians oral surgeons and hygienists. As a result the current single surgery is too small. A larger dental surgery is in the pipeline following the acquisition of the house next-door at 353 Harewood Road in Bishopdale, Christchurch.
With the addition of two dental chairs, the hospital will be able to increase the number of procedures, extend its service and provide training for dental students.
The dental service will continue to be available for WINZ clients only with a referral from their dentist.
“We are very excited to increase the number of dental procedures and include some oral surgery including removing wisdom teeth and general extractions. We realise there is a huge need for free dental services and relish the opportunity to help as many people as we can,” says Carl Shaw, the hospital manager.
The remainder of the building will be used for administration and office space, freeing up clinical space in the other buildings. There will also be provision for an education and community meeting space at the front of the building.
Funding for the purchase of the building has been generously supplied by a major benefactor and we are now embarking of a fundraising drive to fund the conversion.

Hidden casualties of summer road toll need help

20 January, 2016

There are many hidden casualties of the summer road toll who get neither media attention nor effective treatment, says Sarah Dean, Founder of the Road Traffic Accident Trauma Charitable Trust.

“The Ministry of Transport draws attention to the number of fatal and injury crashes and their victims, but this does not paint the full picture,” said Dean. “Research tells us that many individuals who survive a road crash will suffer psychological trauma, even if they have not been physically injured.”

Psychological injuries caused by traffic accidents include acute anxiety, panic attacks, severe apprehension about being in a vehicle, driving, or passing the scene of the accident and even more severe reactions such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, said Dean.

“Contrary to what many people think, psychological injuries that occur without physical injuries are not covered by ACC, even when they are very severe and disabling.”

The Road Traffic Trauma Charitable Trust (RTA Trauma Charitable Trust) was set up in 2009 specifically to secure effective treatment for these people.

“We have negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canterbury Charity Hospital to provide a free counselling service for anybody who is experiencing negative psychological effects as a result of being in a traffic accident. If you think you are affected in this way you can make a self-referral via their website www.charityhospital.org.nz,” said Dean.

The RTA Trauma Charitable Trust’s activities are focussed on public education about traffic accident-related psychological trauma and fundraising to support the counselling service provided by the Charity Hospital. For further information about the Trust, about psychological trauma following a traffic accident, or to make a donation, please contact www.roadtrafficaccidenttrust.org.nz.

To make a self referral, people can phone the Canterbury Charity Hospital on (03) 360-2266.