Referring a patient to the Canterbury Charity Hospital
Any patient you refer must meet our clinical and financial criteria, and the patient referral declaration form is your guide to determining eligibility.
For GPs & Health Professionals
The Canterbury Charity Hospital provides free surgical, dental, counselling and specialist outpatient care to people who cannot access treatment in the public system and cannot afford private care. If your patient fits our eligibility criteria, we would be pleased to offer them free treatment at our hospital.
Our services are regularly reviewed to cater for changing unmet needs within the public health system and the availability of our volunteer specialists.
Limited dermatology services are provided to patients aged 16-25 years with significant mature acne scarring. Management of ongoing active acne is not offered.
In addition to the normal referral process, please complete the following assessment documents, guidance notes and assessment form and at least 2 colour photos of good quality.
General and specialised advice related to most health conditions including pre- and post-surgery advice and weight loss management.
Symptomatic patients with rectal bleeding
Unexplained rectal bleeding for six weeks or more, patient aged up to 59-years-old. Visit HealthPathways for more information about the criteria.
Note: Patients referred and accepted to the Rectal Bleeding pathway proceed to flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Symptomatic patients without rectal bleeding
Patients referred for colonoscopy require a standard referral process including a formal decline of colonoscopy from the public system.
Referral guidelines for CRC screening
Category Two Patients as follows: One first-degree relative with CRC diagnosed before age 55 years, or two first-degree relatives with CRC diagnosed at any age. Recommendation is colonoscopy every five years from age 50 years (or from an age 10 years before earliest age at which CRC was diagnosed in the family, whichever is earlier).
Referrals for Post-CRC surveillance (over 75 years)
Currently surveillance for patients with a personal history of CRC is ceased once the patient is aged 75 years – we will see such patients if they meet our criteria for day surgery management and are able to safely take the bowel preparation at home (ASA 1 and 2 only).
Note: The Canterbury Charity Hospital is unable to offer a diagnostic service for the investigation of abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
Cataract surgery with a national prioritisation score and decline from NZ Health (Canterbury). We also need a completed Christchurch Hospital ophthalmology referral score sheet with a National Prioritisation Score attached.
Pilonidal disease, haemorrhoids, anal fissure etc. Hernia surgery is currently suspended. This page will be updated when that changes.
We offer tubal ligation, Mirena and limited gynaecology procedures.
Carpal tunnel decompression, Dupytrens contracture, Trigger finger, Bursa, Arthrodesis distal joints, Hammer Toe correction, Tenotomy Toe, Removal bone spur, Excision neuroma, Tarsal tunnel release, Toe amputation, Tailors bunion excision and Bunion surgery (minor to moderate day surgery compatible).
This clinic has been developed as a joint initiative between the Canterbury Charity Hospital and Health New Zealand (Canterbury) to meet unmet need.
- Aged up to 59 years
- History of rectal bleeding for at least 6 weeks
- No other colorectal signs or symptoms including haemorrhoids, fissures and skin tags
- No health insurance
This clinic has been developed as a joint initiative between the Canterbury Charity Hospital and Health New Zealand (Canterbury) to meet unmet need.
Please request PR bleeding clinic on your referral request.
This service is for patients who do not have any other colorectal signs or symptoms including haemorrhoids, fissures and skin tags ie have low risk of colorectal cancer.
These particular patients do not have to be declined publicly funded treatment to be referred to this clinic.
Patients will have appropriate investigations and treatment (eg flexible sigmoidoscopy and treatment of their condition eg banding or injecting of haemorrhoids and biopsy of polyps). Subsequent colonoscopy may be required as a result of investigations and these will be done primarily at the Canterbury Charity Hospital or the NZ Health (Canterbury)for those deemed more urgent.
Subsequent treatment may be means tested.
We provide vasectomy, adult circumcision (secular only), penile correction of Peyronie’s disease and non-lobulated hydrocele.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients are screened medically and financially before an offer of service is made. This is a two-step process starting with a formal referral, including the signed declaration. We ask that the referrer is actively involved in the declaration as the presumption is that GPs have some awareness of their patient’s health and financial status. The second stage includes a self-reported health questionnaire and a more detailed application for financial assistance.
ERMS referrals are preferred, including a request, pertinent consultation notes, past medical history (problems), medications, warnings and observations including BMI. Please attach supporting documents to the ERMS referral.
Supporting documents must include a completed Referral and Declaration form and, for most referrals, a formal NZ Health (Canterbury) decline of service. Other documents may be requested.
Patient selection is important. Volunteer anaesthetists have agreed that we will offer surgical treatment to patients in ASA Classes 1&2 only.
ASA stands for American Society of Anaesthesiologists. New Zealand Anaesthetists have adopted the ASA system for classifying the pre-operative physical status of patients. Below is the classification, with definitions (often abbreviated as ASA1, ASA2, etc):
Class 1 Healthy patient, no medical problems
Class 2 Mild systemic disease
Class 3 Severe systemic disease, but not incapacitating
Class 4 Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
Class 5 Moribund, not expected to live 24 hours irrespective of operation
For Dentists & Oral Surgeons
Our free dental and oral surgery services are provided by volunteers (predominantly by members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Dental Association). If your patient fits our eligibility criteria, we would be pleased to offer them free treatment at our hospital.
Our services are regularly reviewed to cater for changing unmet needs within the public health system and the availability of our volunteer specialists.
(Strict eligibility criteria apply)
Dentures are provided only for:
- Current Charity Hospital dental patients who meet the WINZ criteria
- Charity Hospital dental patients meeting WINZ criteria who have completed treatment but require dentures
- Christchurch City Mission clients
- Patients referred by Christchurch Hospital’s Dental Service who have already had extractions completed there and now require dentures
Treatment limited to the following teeth only:
13, 12, 11, 21, 22, 23, 41, 42, 43, 31, 32, 33
- Routine extractions
- Wisdom teeth removal
- Total clearances
- Complex extractions performed under sedation
- Examinations and radiographs
- Scale/prophylaxis (cleaning)
- Preventative care and oral health advice
- Direct restorations (fillings):
- Posterior teeth (behind the canines): single or multi-surface amalgam or glass ionomer restorations
- Anterior teeth (3–3): single or multi-surface restorations
- Dental hygienist treatment
- Periodontal cleaning and maintenance
- Minor oral surgery procedures
- Sedation available for complex cases
- Note: Crowns and implants are not provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
All dental patients must be referred by a dentist. Any patient you refer must meet our clinical and financial criteria, and the patient referral declaration form is your guide to determining eligibility.
Services are offered to patients from 18 to 65 years of age for WINZ clients, and 18 to 69 years for ultra-low income patients and City Mission clients. WINZ patients must be receiving one of the following benefits to be entitled for treatment: Supported living payment, jobseeker support, sole parent support and child disability allowance.
Patient selection is important. Volunteer anaesthetists have agreed that we will offer surgical treatment to patients in ASA Classes 1&2 only.
ASA stands for American Society of Anaesthesiologists. New Zealand Anaesthetists have adopted the ASA system for classifying the pre-operative physical status of patients. Below is the classification, with definitions (often abbreviated as ASA1, ASA2, etc):
Class 1 Healthy patient, no medical problems
Class 2 Mild systemic disease
Class 3 Severe systemic disease, but not incapacitating
Class 4 Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
Class 5 Moribund, not expected to live 24 hours irrespective of operation
To access our dental services, you will need to be aged between 18 – 65 years (WINZ beneficiary) or 18 to 69 years (employed but have an ultra-low income). Some background information about your financial situation may be required if you do not receive one of the following benefits: supported living payment, jobseeker support, sole parent support and child disability allowance.
Training and education
Providing professional training, development and education is an important part of our work. As well as training for clinicians, we also provide work experience for student nurses and other health professionals. Our interactive technology in our two theatres enables us to also run educational seminars.
