Lakes District Hospital Foundation

08/10/2026

A little something to say a big thank you ☕🍰

It’s been another incredibly busy winter at Lakes District Hospital, and our wonderful hospital and allied health staff have worked tirelessly to care for our community and the many visitors to our region.

So, as a small gesture of appreciation, the Lakes District Hospital Foundation has given each of the 199 staff members a voucher for coffee and cake.

It’s just a little treat, but behind it is a very big thank you for the care, commitment and hard work they bring every day.

And it's another way the Lakes District Hospital Foundation can support the staff who care so well for our community. 💙💙💚💚

07/10/2026

Very positive news for the future of healthcare in the region with the signing of the Regional Deal. People in our region currently have to travel significant distances for specialist healthcare services, adding stress, cost and burden to patients and their families. Planning will now start to determine what additional services and facilities will be provided locally to one of NZ's fastest growing populations to improve local healthcare outcomes.

Otago Central Lakes councils and the New Zealand Government have signed a Regional Deal aimed at ensuring the region can keep pace with growth while remaining a great place to live, work and visit.

The deal creates a long-term partnership between local and central government to work together, alongside mana whenua and the private sector to better coordinate planning and investment over the next 30 years.

The deal is built around eight interconnected priority areas that will guide investment, decision-making and delivery across the region. Combined, these priorities enable the housing, infrastructure, services, investment and partnerships required to support thriving communities across Otago Central Lakes.

Six-monthly meetings will be held between the participating Ministers, the Otago Central Lakes Mayors and Chair of the Otago Regional Council. The Otago Central Lakes Oversight Board, Steering Group, and Working Committees will be established to support the deal as required.

Within six months of signing, the parties will develop an Implementation Plan that translates the commitments in the deal into a programme of agreed actions for approval by the responsible Ministers, Mayors and Chair.

Full story in comments below.

23/09/2026

One of the ways the Foundation supports the Lakes District Hospital is by providing funding for nurses and allied health professionals to attend training courses and conferences for learning and upskilling.

This fund was set up by a grateful overseas patient as a result of the wonderful care they had received from the hospital staff.

Your donations help to keep the fund topped up and are a lovely way of paying forward your appreciation.

We love hearing how the new skills gained are put to work, which benefits the staff, and ultimately improves patient care. 🩵💚

13/09/2026

Today is International Wills Day, and this year it has particular meaning for the Lakes District Hospital Foundation.

We recently received the wonderful news that through their will, a local person has left a gift to the Foundation. A gift that will care for our community well into the future.

Leaving a gift in your will is a deeply personal decision. Family and loved ones come first, but even a small percentage of an estate can create a meaningful legacy for a cause or organisation that has mattered during your lifetime.

We are deeply grateful to the donor who chose to include the Lakes District Hospital Foundation in their will, thank you. It is a privilege to be entrusted with a gift that will help to provide healthcare to those who need it in our community.

If leaving a gift in your will to the Lakes District Hospital Foundation is something that you might like to do, contact your lawyer, who can assist you with the best way to do this. We would love to know your story and how we can best direct funds to your wishes, so please let us know as well.

07/09/2026

When great care travels all the way home.

A Queenstown ski holiday didn’t quite go to plan for one of our Australian visitors, with fractured ribs and a punctured lung leading to an unexpected visit to Lakes District Hospital.

Once safely home, his ski mate got in touch with these lovely words, and a donation to the Lakes District Hospital Foundation as a way of saying thank you.

We’ll make sure their thanks are passed on to the Hospital ED team, whose care clearly made a lasting impression.

We are very grateful for the donation, which will help us continue to support Lakes District Hospital and the people who care for our community, locals and visitors alike.

A wonderful example of gratitude being paid forward.

28/08/2026

A little yellow flower. A lot of support.

On Daffodil Day, we acknowledge the incredible work of the Cancer Society Otago Southland here in Queenstown, supporting local people and their families through cancer.

We also see the impact of cancer within our hospital, where our nurses and wider healthcare team provide compassionate care to patients affected by cancer.

Today, we encourage our community to get behind Daffodil Day. Buy a daffodil, make a donation and help the Cancer Society continue its important work supporting people with cancer in our community.

And to all those caring for them - thank you. ⭐

www.daffodilday.org.nz

17/08/2026

From three to a team of 199!

In 1864, Dr James Douglas, Matron Mrs Cartwright and her husband (the wardsman) were among a very small team caring for patients at the very beginnings of Lakes District Hospital.

More than 160 years later, that commitment to caring for our community continues with 199 people now working across Lakes District Hospital and its allied services.

While medicine, technology and our community have changed enormously since these photos were taken, people remain at the heart of our hospital.

From 1864 to today, the staff are part of a remarkable history of care in our region.

You can read more about the history of the Lakes District Hospital here https://bit.ly/44YPsIw.

Thanks to Lakes District Museum for the photos

31/07/2026

160 years of caring for our community.

Long before Queenstown became an international destination, a small hospital was established in Frankton to care for miners during the gold rush.

Over the past 160 years, Lakes District Hospital has evolved alongside our community. Along the way, it has survived fire, served generations of local families, and tried to keep up with the needs of one of New Zealand's fastest-growing regions. The recent announcement of $180M for local healthcare services will create another chapter in this story.

We've brought together the history of the hospital, from its beginnings in 1863 through to the present day.

Whether you've been born here, cared for here, worked here or simply have an interest in local history, we invite you to read the story.

📖 Read the full history here: https://bit.ly/44YPsIw

If you have some history, photos or paintings of the hospital, or the wonderful staff who have worked here over the years that we could add to our story we would love to hear from you!

24/06/2026

A great explanation from primary care providers Queenstown Medical Centre about how to decide whether to go to a GP based accident and medical clinic or head to the hospital for more serious issues.

🚑 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧

Whether you’re a local, a seasonal worker, or visiting Queenstown, this guide helps you feel confident about where to go when you need same‑day medical care.

It covers how Urgent Care works at QMC, when it’s the right place to come, when the hospital is the better option, and how ACC supports you after an injury.

Read the full guide to understand your options and what to expect when you arrive. ⤵︎
https://www.qmc.co.nz/post/your-guide-to-urgent-care-in-queenstown

17/06/2026

This National Volunteer Week, we'd like to recognise the people who volunteer their time and expertise to guide the Lakes District Hospital Foundation.

Our trustees contribute their time and expertise to support the Foundation's work, helping to understand where generous donations can support patients, staff and healthcare services across the Lakes District.

The Foundation has achieved a great deal over the years, from supporting vital equipment like the CT Scanner, to facilities such as the whanau room. The Nurse Education fund ensures our nurses can continually develop their skills, and we have funded a number of simulator "patients" for staff training. None of this would be possible without the commitment of volunteers like our trustees working behind the scenes.

Thank you to our current - and past - trustees, and to the many volunteers across our community who give their time to support causes they care about.



Jon Bitcheno Dr David Hunt Jayne Macdonald Emily Nelson Kim Wilkinson Eunice Borrie