Bidwill Trust Hospital entered the 2017 South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and won the Community Organisation Award.

The Trust was a finalist in four award categories:

• The Large Business Award
• ACC Workplace Safety Award
• Innovation and Technology Award, and
• Community Organisation Award

Over 70 businesses across South Canterbury entered the awards.

Winners were announced at the gala award evening presentations on Friday 18 August.

Manager Val Flynn received the award on behalf of the hospital and credited the success of the hospital to the 60 staff, their commitment to excellence and their dedicated patient care.

Bidwill welcomes Chris Gray to private practice. Chris is a general surgeon BSc(H), MBChB, FRACS. His areas of specialist interest include, hernia, skin tumours, endoscopy, breast surgery, laparoscopic surgery – gall bladder and colorectal surgery. Chris works in public and private practice and he consults from South Canterbury Surgeons’ rooms at 45 York Street, directly behind the hospital.

South Canterbury Cancer Society centre manager Leola Smith, Bidwill Trust Hospital manager Val Flynn and Salvation Army major Murray Sanson. Sanson and Smith each recieved $20,000 for their organisation from Bidwill last week. A donation of $40,000 to two Timaru organisations will assist with the running of community services. Bidwill Trust Hospital Val Flynn said the hospital had signed a partnership agreement with both the South Canterbury Cancer Society and the Salvation Army and donated $20,000 to each organisation. Some of the money donated to the Cancer Society helped to support its wig and turban programme...

Staff health project recognised by Highly Commended placing in Leaders in Quality Awards. Bidwill Trust Hospital received a highly commended placing in the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals’ Association “Leaders in Quality” awards held in Wellington recently. The biennial awards recognise excellence across 24 member hospitals spread across 35 surgical facilities throughout New Zealand. There were two award categories, clinical and non-clinical.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has congratulated Bidwill Trust Hospital in Timaru on joining the national campaign to improve patient safety. Mrs Goodhew visited the hospital today to witness the signing of the pledge of support for Open for better care, which she launched last year. Bidwill Hospital is the fifth private hospital to sign the pledge and as one on the smallest in New Zealand this is a real achievement.

2012 was Bidwill Trust Hospital's centennial year. A number of activities were planned during the year to celebrate the milestone. A book was written on the history of the hospital by author Doug Drake titled " The Bidwill Story" There was a book launch at the hospital on 11 May 2012. The book went on sale at the hospital for $10. There was a centennial dinner on Saturday 1 December for past and present staff, consultants and board members.

A century of growth, change and medical advancement in Timaru is chronicled in a new edition of a book on the history of Bidwill Trust Hospital. The book, The Bidwill Story, was researched and written by historian and former Timaru Herald chief reporter Doug Drake. It "brings to life the medical scene of Timaru over 100 years", Drake said. The book represents hours spent sifting through old administrative reports, meeting minutes and newspaper articles for details on the decisions and events that formed the hospital that exists today. But more importantly, he said, the book told the stories of men and women who shaped the Timaru community through decades of work to keep the hospital going. The first private hospital in South Canterbury opened in a...

Bidwill Trust Hospital confirmed their support for the MRI Scanner appeal, with a grant of $45,000. As Bidwill Trust Hospital Chairman, Mark Hervey announced in the Timaru Herald "Bidwill Trust Hospital is a Charitable Trust (owned by the people of South Canterbury).  As 2012 is our centennial year the board would like to make a special gift to the South Canterbury community. The MRI scanner is exactly the sort of project we wish to support. The Board decided it was important our Hospital made this donation, as part of our overall commitment to ensure that the best possible health services are provided here in Timaru".

Skin-check clinics at Timaru's Bidwill Trust Hospital are benefiting the community in more ways than one. Two hundred people paid $5 each to have moles or lesions checked at the clinic on Saturday. Some of those people also gave extra money to the cause, which helped raise $1200 for the MRI scanner appeal. Sixty-nine patients were referred from the clinic to their GP for further checks or treatment, including 19 with "serious concerns". Five surgeons conducted the clinic, taking just a few minutes with each patient. The clinic is usually held every two years. Hospital manager Val Flynn said the number of people who attended this year's clinic was pleasing, however, attendance was down on the previous year...

Health Minister Tony Ryall knew he was doomed the minute the suggestion was made – the suggestion that he have his blood pressure taken. In Timaru on the campaign trail yesterday, Mr Ryall visited hospitals, old folks home, held a public meeting, paid a surprise visit to his cousin, and had his blood pressure taken. And yes it was high. The man who claims to normally have very healthy blood pressure knew the news would not be good when the test was administered during a visit to the Bidwill Trust Hospital. Could it be, he quipped later, due to the fact that the media was present? While not in a hurry to reveal the actual reading, Mr Ryall also put the high reading down to being less than three weeks out from an election. He has no doubt his blood pressure peaks on a three-yearly election cycle...

Bidwill Trust Hospital's multi-million dollar expansion has increased its size and capacity by more than 70 per cent. Trust chairman Mark Hervey said yesterday's opening was a "historic day" in the history of the hospital, which was established in 1912. The recent expansion was the culmination of a five-year effort, and cost nearly $6 million. "After two years in planning, the board accepted the tender of Hendersons Building in January last year," he said. "What you see tonight is a major investment in health facilities for South Canterbury. The new Bidwill is 70 per cent larger, with a new day care ward, new theatre, six-bed recovery ward, kitchen and many other supporting facilities...

Bidwill Trust Hospital was the winner of the Community Organisation business award in 2009.

Bidwill Trust Hospital won this prestigious award in 2009.

The Awards aim to showcase the quality initiatives and facilitate sector-wide learning and growth, leading to improved service and business delivery and safer patient care. The judges were most  impressed with the high calibre and diversity of the 18 entries received and the great work that is  being undertaken throughout the sector.

LEFT: Leaders in Quality award from New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association