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Publications - "A New Way of Living"

History of Burwood Spinal Unit launched by CDHB

Fifty years ago, spinally injured patients in New Zealand had little or no specialist care. More often than not, they died at a young age. There was no accident compensation, no planned rehabilitation. Once diagnosed, there was little that was known that could be done.

Into this picture came Bill Utley, a urologist who was working for the then North Canterbury Hospital Board. He had developed an interest in spinal injuries and had visited the world famous spinal unit at Stoke Mandeville in the UK. He had been issued with a challenge on his return to help a spinally injured patient in Wanganui get his life back together. Bill Utley was not a man to ignore a challenge.

This new book describes how the spinal unit was first established at Christchurch hospital making use of an old Ward – 13C; how it quickly outgrew its premises and moved next door to 13B; how word soon got around about the unit’s successes and patients started being referred to Christchurch from all over New Zealand. And, how they lobbied for a new unit which was eventually built at Burwood hospital.

The book also includes some inspiring interviews with early patients like Graham Tapper and Rex Fattorini, who are still working for the spinal unit at Burwood; interviews with sporting celebrity Neroli Fairhall and pioneer aviator Sir Tim Wallis, Queenstown painter Angus Watson and many others.

There are stories about the early nursing staff – Helen Milner, Beth Spiers, Bayliss Hopkins to mention but a few, and some wonderful tales about the rehabilitative achievements of staff like Cos ter Veer, Ted Hardiman and Brian O’Donaghue.

As the unit developed, so did the clinical and rehabilitative expertise led by such well known clinicians as Allan Bean, Angelo Anthony and more recently Alan Clarke and Rick Acland. Specialist surgical care in the form of tetraplegic upper limb surgery by Professor Alastair Rothwell and Stewart Sinclair were also acclaimed.

What is not well known is that paraplegic sports developed in Christchurch at the spinal unit in the 60s and from there paraplegic associations sprang up all around New Zealand.

The history is a compilation of people’s experiences in the unit either as patients or rehabilitationists.

How can I purchase a copy?

It is published by the CDHB and is available within New Zealand for NZ$20 plus NZ$5.50 post and packaging.  Complete the flyer found below and send it to us with your contact details.

more info arrow "A New Way of Living" Flyer (649KB PDF Format, 20/02/04)

For further details please contact Fleur King on 03 364 4124 or email fleur.king@cdhb.govt.nz.