31 July 2018

Northlanders Benefit From HUGO Charitable Trust Gift

Mid North Whānau are set to benefit from a $200,000 donation from the Hugo Charitable Trust to the Bay of Islands Hospital.

The donation is being used to buy building materials for the construction of a new Whānau House on site at Bay of Islands Hospital and to purchase clinical equipment and an acute telehealth solution for the new Accident & Medical Department.

“The redevelopment of the Bay of Islands Hospital will provide a comprehensive health service all under one roof. The Hugo Charitable Trust is delighted to contribute to this project, which will clearly benefit communities in the Mid-North region”, said Hugo’s founder, Maryanne Green.

To be named the Hugo Whānau House, the facility and additional specialised clinical equipment will improve the health and well-being of the Mid North community through better facilities and equipment.

“The Bay of Islands Hospital encourages Partners in Care, which allows family and whānau to stay overnight and to participate in the care of their loved ones,” said Jeanette Wedding, general manager regional hospitals.

“The Hugo Whānau House means that extended family can be close by without the need to travel the long distances experienced throughout the rural Mid North area.”

The Mid North's biggest health infrastructure project in decades, the re-build of Bay of Islands Hospital at Kawakawa has seen the district health board investing $9.9 million on a two-storey building with an accident and medical department, radiology and after-hours GP service on the ground floor and a 20-bed medical ward upstairs.

In addition to the Hugo Whānau House the two new resuscitation bays will be known as the Hugo Resuscitation Bays, in recognition of the clinical equipment and telehealth solution that will be available within the Accident and Medical department.

“Specialised equipment enables the clinicians to make immediate decisions to provide their patients improved care and treatment.”

Maryanne Green is the eldest daughter of Irish philanthropist and businessman the late Hugh Green known in Ireland as Hugo. Maryanne founded the Hugo Charitable Trust last year to continue Hugh’s philanthropic legacy and to give back to the people of New Zealand.

Maryanne worked closely at Hugh’s side for over 25 years where she developed a deep understanding of Hugh’s philanthropic priorities and wishes.

Hugo invests in the relief of poverty, the advancement of family, social and community welfare and the care and support of the disadvantaged or marginalised. Hugo has made significant donations to medical research as well as to many education initiatives.

The new facility will be officially opened in September 2018 with a public open day to follow.

-ENDS-

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