Charitable Surgery Programme
Charitable Surgery Programme
Southern Cross Charitable Surgery Programme
Southern Cross Healthcare and the Southern Cross Health Trust (its parent entity and a charitable organisation) strive to help more people live their best lives through the provision of quality healthcare. Together, we are very proud to help New Zealanders in need, access timely and quality care at no cost through the Charitable Surgery Programme.
With the support of credentialled medical practitioners who generously donate their services, the Programme provides much needed care to New Zealanders who have no other means of accessing timely and affordable treatment. Since 2019 the Programme has helped more than 285 people receive life changing surgery.
The need in our communities is greater than ever. With your help, the Charitable Surgery Programme can improve the lives of even more New Zealanders.
We are very pleased to support our communities as we continue to grow this programme.
Programme criteria
For a patient to be accepted under the Charitable Surgery Programme, the credentialled medical practitioner and the hospital General Manager must agree that:
- The surgery is medically necessary.
- The patient has no other means to access surgery within a reasonable timeframe (through Health NZ Te Whatu Ora, ACC, private insurance or private funding).
- Specialist charges will be waived (the surgeon and anaesthetist do not charge a fee).
- Suppliers have been asked to provide any implants required at no cost or at a discount.
Questions about the Programme can be directed to General Managers of Southern Cross Hospitals or by emailing charitablesurgeries@southerncrosshospitals.co.nz
How to make a referral
Credentialled medical practitioners can refer eligible patients for the Southern Cross Charitable Surgery Programme by contacting the General Manager of any Southern Cross hospital. The referral must fulfil the Programme criteria to be considered.
Credentialled medical practitioners must provide:
- A brief description of the patient’s circumstances.
- The medical procedure required.
- The reason that the patient cannot access surgery via other means within a reasonable timeframe.
- An estimate of the cost of services to be provided at no charge.
- Whether an implant is required, and if that implant can be provided from the supplier at no cost.
Following confirmation from the General Manager that the treatment can be delivered under the Programme, the patient can be booked following the normal process.
On completion of the surgery, practitioners are required to provide an invoice that shows the value of services provided with a discount applied to reflect a zero balance. This helps the Southern Cross Health Trust understand the total impact delivered to the community and the significant contribution made by our specialists.