Southern Charity Hospital Celebrates First Year of Impactful Care in Southland

The Southern Charity Hospital in Invercargill, New Zealand, marked its one-year anniversary on February 28, 2026, having provided crucial healthcare services to the Southland and Otago regions. Established through a significant community effort and driven by the vision of Melissa and the late Blair Vining, the hospital is addressing inequities in access to care.

From Vision to Reality

The hospital’s origins trace back to 2018, when Blair Vining was diagnosed with aggressive bowel cancer and experienced delays in accessing specialist care. His advocacy, alongside his wife Melissa, highlighted the disparities in healthcare access for those in rural areas [1]. This led to a six-year fundraising campaign that raised $6 million to transform the former Clifton Club Inn into a functioning hospital [4].

A Year of Progress: Services Provided

In its first year of operation (March 2025 – February 2026), the Southern Charity Hospital has delivered significant healthcare services, including:

• 69 endoscopy procedures (colonoscopies)
• 35 dental procedures

These services were supported by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, including five visiting clinicians specializing in colonoscopy and ten volunteer nurses. Three volunteer dentists as well provided crucial dental care [3].

Expanding Volunteer Base and Future Services

The hospital has successfully credentialed 37 volunteers ready to provide medical and dental services. Twelve new endoscopists, four endoscopy nurses, and two dentists have expressed interest in volunteering in the coming months. Looking ahead, the hospital plans to expand its services to include carpal tunnel surgery as a priority [4].

Looking Ahead: Growth and Sustainability

Over the 2026-2027 financial year, the Southern Charity Hospital aims to significantly increase its capacity, with goals to deliver:

• 500 endoscopy procedures (including colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies)
• 100 dental procedures
• 60 carpal tunnel procedures

To achieve this growth, the hospital is actively recruiting credentialed volunteers, including 12 doctors, 36 nurses, 10 dentists/dental assistants, and 18 support staff [4].

Community and Funding Support

The hospital’s success is underpinned by strong community and financial support. Notable contributions over the past year include:

• Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT) – $10,000 for clinician and nurse accommodation
• Barry Owen Trust – $112,300 for equipment purchases
• The Stewart Family Trust – $25,000 for operating costs
• PH Vickery Trust – $25,000 for operating costs
• PGG Wrightson Wool – Support for the “Wool For Quality” fundraising campaign
• New Zealand Freemason Southern Region No. 9 and the Freemasons Charity – $41,636 for the colonoscopy service

Collaboration with Te Whatu Ora Southern

Melissa Vining emphasized the successful collaboration with Te Whatu Ora Southern, noting that the hospital’s consult rooms have supported paediatric outpatient clinics for local families [3].

A Community Achievement

“One year on from opening our doors, what stands out most is that we are now doing what this hospital was built to do – helping people,” said Melissa Vining. “This hospital was born out of a need for fairer access to care in the south. To see colonoscopy and dental services now being delivered… is incredibly encouraging.” [3]