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Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the inaugural NZPSHA Awards Programme.
We received an outstanding range of entries across all eight award categories, showcasing the exceptional people, teams, and organisations that make up New Zealand's private surgical hospital sector.
We also extend our sincere thanks to our eight judges for their time, expertise, and thoughtful consideration throughout the judging process.
Competition was particularly close across the five business award categories, reflecting the high calibre of submissions received. We are delighted to acknowledge and congratulate our winners, who were announced at the NZPSHA Awards Dinner held at the Cordis Auckland on Thursday 24 September.
For the introduction of a significant innovation improving outcomes, efficiency or patient experience.
Winner: Boulcott Hospital - A centralised intelligence platform
Facing severe patient flow bottlenecks from the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) to ward beds, outdated paper-based workflows, and siloed data systems, Boulcott Hospital identified a critical need to modernize its operations ahead of a major expansion from three to five surgical theatres.
Using Microsoft Power BI, the hospital integrated its previously disconnected patient, staffing, and financial management systems into a single, centralised intelligence platform. The initiative used innovative data entry and data storage techniques, improved and added staff rostering resources, and established precise KPIs around theatre utilisation, patient flow, and workforce efficiency. This innovation has transformed how Boulcott Hospital operates, governs, and plans.
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Sponsored by Capes Medical
For achieving measurable improvements in environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Winner: St George's Hospital - Replacing LPG-fired boilers
This high-impact sustainability initiative has decarbonised the most emissions-intensive infrastructure at St George’s Hospital, through electrification of process heat. By displacing LPG-fired boilers with an electric steam boiler and two electric hot water boilers, the hospital has achieved independently verified emissions reductions of up to 905 tCO2 annually while maintaining uninterrupted delivery of critical clinical services.
The initiative demonstrates strong organisational leadership, combining technical innovation with practical implementation in a complex, live healthcare environment. It has delivered measurable economic benefit, with approximately $375,000 in annual energy savings, confirming the commercial viability of sustainability investment. Importantly, the project enhances system resilience, strengthens internal capability, and embeds sustainability into operational decision-making.
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Sponsored by UniMed
For excellence in staff engagement, training, wellbeing and professional development that supports a high performing workplace.
Joint Winners:
Mercy Hospital - Leadership in Action
Recognising that excellent patient care starts with effective leadership, Mercy took a courageous approach to leadership development by using employee feedback to shape its leadership capability programme. Drawing on engagement data, employee feedback, organisational insights and leadership observations, a bespoke leadership programme was designed and delivered, focused on the leadership behaviours employees identified as most important, including approachability, communication and coaching. Rather than adopting an off the shelf solution, the programme was tailored to lived experiences of Mercy employees as well as the hospital’s unique culture, values and strategic priorities.
This initiative transformed employee feedback into meaningful action. By equipping leaders with the skills to respond to identified needs, Mercy strengthened leadership capability and embedded practices that continue to positively influence employee experience, organisational culture and patient care.
Southern Cross Healthcare - A transformed leadership and learning approach
Southern Cross Healthcare’s 10-year strategic plan affirms a vision to help people live their best lives by reimagining healthcare, and an organisation purpose to advance the provision of quality healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand. Underpinned by three core tenets – quality, responsible business and our people, the strategy acknowledges that exceptional patient outcomes require a strong, capable workforce.
Whilst continuing to deliver high-quality care, an opportunity was seen to strengthen leadership capability and create a more consistent, connected approach to learning and development across the network.
The transformed leadership and learning approach has delivered: More capable and confident leaders, higher participation in learning and improved staff engagement. Most importantly, fostering a culture where people feel supported to learn and improve every day, strengthening the consistency and quality of care delivered.
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For excellence in understanding and improving the patient journey and outcomes.
Winner: Grace Hospital - Enhancing the care of Tamariki with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Rohe that the Grace campus is situated on in Tauranga includes the tribal lands of Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāi Te Rangi, and Ngāti Ranginui. Ngāti Ruahine is the hapu. The project has directly improved the care of vulnerable tamariki with Takiwātanga (autism) and demonstrates a commitment to patient and whānau experience. Kāwanatanga – a Tamariki plan of care was co-designed directly with whānau. Tino rangatiratanga – forming relationships and working together with patients and whānau. Oritetanga – personalised contact ensuring understanding and equity of outcomes. And Wairuatanga –working together with whānau to form a plan of care specific to the needs of their tamariki and fully recognising the interconnectedness of Te Whare Tapa Whā.
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This Award is for leadership and measurable success in promoting and maintaining a safe environment.
Winner: Braemar Hospital - Evidence-based leadership programme
Braemar designed and delivered a structured, evidencebased leadership programme grounded in both the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Root Cause Analyses and Actions (RCA²) methodology and the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Learning from Harm framework. This programme equipped leaders to shift the frame from finding fault, to learning and system thinking. This resulted in leaders who model psychologically safe culture, acting with compassion when reviewing adverse events. Braemar Hospital has made measurable, lasting change in how they learn from harm.
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This Award is for a professional - clinical or non-clinical – who is still early in their career but is showing exceptional promise, initiative and influence.
Winner: Emma Ladley
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This Award honours an individual who is a respected leader, collaborator and advocate for continuous improvement and sector-wide excellence.
Winner: Julie Hedley
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Sponsored by nib
This Award honours an individual who has made a significant and sustained contribution to health services in New Zealand.
Winner: Nicky Van Praagh
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All the winners were eligible for this award. It was decided by vote from the people in the room on this Awards night.
Winner:
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