Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker, pictured at one of November's free community surgery days, with thank you cards written by patients for the specialists and staff who donated their time.
Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker’s years of work in governance and improving health in communities has been publicly acknowledged.
Paula has been the manager at Braemar Charitable Trust since 2016, after initially joining the board as a trustee. The Trust fully owns Braemar Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in New Zealand, and is focused on improving health outcomes in communities.
Paula was honoured in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List, being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health governance and the community.
She has a strong history in governance, including health organisations, retirement villages, sports organisations, and many other trusts and councils.
Paula is best known in the Waikato region for her work as the Braemar Charitable Trust Manager. The trust is determined to improve health equity in communities and Paula has helped spearhead one of the most well-known aspects of the Trust’s charitable work: free community surgeries for those in need.
Many of the more than 200 surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialed to work at Braemar Hospital give their time, free, to support the Trust’s Community Surgery Programme. Braemar Hospital provides consumable items at cost, and the Trust covers other costs such as surgical items, consumables, drugs and nursing care.
Since 1 April 2024, the Trust has enabled 111 free surgeries for people who have been declined or are facing considerable wait times for surgery in the public system, and who do not have health insurance, ACC nor the financial means to pay for private treatment. More than 70 people received day surgeries or procedures across two Community Surgery Days in November 2024 where for the first time, Braemar Hospital opened its operating theatres on a Saturday for the surgeries.
Paula says it was a huge surprise when she was notified about the New Year’s honour but she is pleased that Braemar Charitable Trust’s vital work is being recognised, alongside the other organisations she is involved with. “We couldn’t do the work we do at Braemar Charitable Trust without the support of a lot of amazing people so I want to say thanks to them - without the specialists, donors, the wonderful Braemar Hospital staff we wouldn’t be able to change lives in the way we do.”
The Trust has a range of charitable activities it undertakes including scholarships, health training and funding medical research. For the free surgeries, the Trust has a range of collaborations across the broad Waikato region including with Te Whatu Ora, PHOs, iwi providers, Te Whakaruruhau/Women’s Refuge, K’aute Pasifika and Te Whare Korowai/Nightshelter; these organisations refer patients with issues accessing surgical procedures in the public system. GPs can also refer suitable patients for help.
Recently the Trust launched an “online store” where supporters can donate procedures including children’s ENT (tonsils, grommets etc), or paediatric dental surgery, through to general and gynaecological surgeries.
Chair Vicky McLennan says Paula is the powerhouse behind the Trust’s relationships in the region and the Trust’s efforts to improve health equity in the community. “We are lucky to have an excellent board and truly wonderful supporters, but we truly are blessed to have Paula in her role. She is a driving force for the important work we do in the wider region.”
For more information on the Braemar Charitable Trust, or to make a donation to support its work, visit braemartrust.co.nz
