We can’t change a diagnosis, but you can change how someone experiences it

“A few years ago I made a phone call about a piece of equipment we urgently needed in the Emergency Department. What happened next taught me more about the value of the Wellington Hospitals Foundation than any annual report ever could.  We needed a video laryngoscope. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a device that helps clinicians secure a patient's airway during some of the most critical moments in emergency care. It wasn't simply a nice piece of equipment to have. It improved patient safety and it was becoming essential for training the next generation of Emergency Physicians. The challenge wasn't identifying the need. We knew exactly what our patients and staff needed. The challenge was funding it.

 

So I reached out to the Foundation.

 

There wasn't a lengthy process or endless bureaucracy. There was simply a shared understanding that this would improve care and support our clinical teams. Before long, the equipment was purchased and in use.  The video laryngoscope was a relatively small investment, but for the patient whose airway is safely secured, for the trainee learning a critical skill, and for the clinician providing that care, it makes all the difference.

 

That's the power of partnership between a hospital and its community. And that's why we are so grateful for your support.”

 

- André Cromhout, Chief Medical Officer for HealthNZ Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley and WHF Trustee