On his 80th birthday, seasoned marathon runner Joe collapsed mid-race from a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to quick thinking bystanders and the expert care of Wellington Regional Hospital’s medical teams, Joe survived.
From the Emergency Department to the Intensive Care Unit and beyond, Joe’s survival depended on the quick actions and expert care of highly trained clinical teams, and the world class technology they rely on. Many of the tools and training systems used in Joe’s care were funded by generous donors.
After being stabilised Joe was transferred to the ICU where surgical teams repaired multiple fractures. In the days that followed, he was moved to the hospital’s Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab), where specialist cardiologists implanted a pacemaker and inserted a stent to support his heart.
The Cath Lab is a vital part of the hospital, used to diagnose and treat patients with serious heart conditions using minimally invasive techniques. These high stakes interventions rely on absolute precision and seamless teamwork.
Thanks to generous donor support, simulation models, medical manikins and REACT scenario based training are helping teams safely practise and perfect their responses to rare but critical complications, before they happen in real life.
Your support helps ensure our hospital teams are always ready, no matter what comes through the doors.
The medical and surgical teams were incredible from the emergency doctors to the nurses, anaesthetists and physios - everyone worked together to get me through. I honestly wouldn't be here without them. - Joe
Joe’s story is a powerful reminder that your donations go far beyond funding equipment, they help save lives by supporting the people, tools and training that underpin expert care.
Did you know? Last year, the highly skilled teams in Wellington Regional Hospital’s Cath Lab performed over 6,600 specialist procedures, that’s around 18 patients every day receiving lifesaving cardiac care.