We have been serving the community
for more than 95 years
About us
Established for the people of Canterbury by the Anglican Church, the Hospital opened its doors in 1928. Today, we are a vital component of health care in Canterbury.
We are an Incorporated Society and a registered Charity, which means we are very active in the community through philanthropic work.
Along with the most up-to-date equipment, our highly skilled staff and specialists are dedicated to our patients. We ensure everyone experiences the highest level of care throughout their journey with us.
Our history
We are proud of our long history of providing health services to the Canterbury community.
1850
St George’s Hospital was first suggested when the London-based Canterbury Association encouraged Canterbury’s founding settlers to create a vibrant new city. This included building a cathedral, a boys’ school, a university college, a church hospital and later a medical school.
1920
A band of enthusiasts, led and inspired by Canon J R Wilford, set about founding a private Church of England Hospital in Christchurch.
St George’s Hospital was built as a result of cooperation between the Anglican Church and a group of interested Cantabrians.
1928
The people of Canterbury established St George’s Hospital with a very clear purpose – to provide health services to the community.
1989
The Society of St George’s Hospital commenced discussions about rebuilding to significantly modernise and expand the services. The vision was to create a one-stop site, offering a comprehensive range of hospital and medical services for the convenience of patients, medical specialists, surgeons, visitors and allied medical professionals.
2012
St George’s Hospital underwent a significant redevelopment due to damage sustained in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. It was a unique opportunity to replace what was lost, while increasing our ability to provide first class medical care. The redevelopment completed in 2020 now provides our patients, clinicians and staff with world-class facilities that are modern, future-proofed and, most importantly, safe.
Today
St George’s Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of the most modern in terms of equipment and technology.
Blair joined St George’s Hospital in January 2021. Prior to that, Blair has enjoyed an extensive career in executive leadership positions in the tourism sector in New Zealand and overseas.
In his last role in Melbourne, he was responsible for both luxury and mainstream hotel accommodation brands in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.
In addition to his CEO role, Blair is currently vice-President of the New Zealand Private Surgical Hospital Association.
A Member of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA), Blair is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Directors (GAICD).
Carol joined the St George’s team in 2013. As Hospital Manager she is responsible for leadership of the clinical and supporting teams, and the operational management of the Hospital.
Carol has held senior nursing and leadership roles in both the private and public hospital environments and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors NZ.
Scott joined St George’s Hospital in 2009 as Accounting Manager and has been the Chief Financial Officer since 2014.
He has responsibility for Finance, Facilities Management and Supply Chain. In addition to St George’s Hospital Incorporated, Scott oversees the Finance function for its multiple joint ventures and St George’s Cancer Institute.
Scott is a Chartered Accountant and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ).
Steph's areas of focus as leader within the Colleague and Capability team are wellbeing and culture, maximising colleague potential, payroll, and operational excellence within the HR portfolio.
Steph has a passion for working with people and her experience covers a wide range of industries including, engineering, banking, insurance and FMCG. She is also very passionate about her community involvement with the New Zealand Spinal Trust.
As Chief Digital Officer, Fenton is responsible for technology throughout the Hospital. His role includes focussing on ICT and digital strategy, design, and operational excellence, all while keeping focus on the immediate goals of the Hospital.
He joined St George’s Hospital in May 2018. Prior to that, he worked with organisations in leadership positions and in a consulting capacity within the public and private health sector, primary industry food safety and agriculture across New Zealand and overseas.
Guiding Values
Our Delicious Food
We are known for providing nutritious meals to our patients.
Our chefs have international experience and their food is renowned for its five-star quality. Our food is made on site and includes herbs fresh from the Hospital's garden.
Our head chef and his team cook more than 1,200 patient meals every week.
Chapel, Chaplain and Kaumātua
Our Chapel is available for patients and visitors to seek a quiet and calm space when needed. We also offer the support of our Chaplain who can help guide you through these challenging times.