From garden bed to hospital bed
St George’s onsite herb garden is flavouring meals for the Hospital’s patients.
Oregano, parsley, thyme, mint, basil, chives, rosemary – and more – are grown in the Hospital’s herb garden and cut fresh just before being added to plates.
St George’s Hospital Executive Chef, Hans Schuhmacher (pictured), introduced the concept after being inspired by a hotel with a herb garden.
“I thought there was no reason why we couldn’t do the same here at St George’s, says Hans. “It fits with our approach of providing patients with nutritious, high quality meals. You couldn’t get it fresher.”
Hans and his team of six chefs cook more than 1,200 patient meals every week. His staff are highly-qualified, with experience working in top hotels and restaurants.
“Absolutely everything is cooked on site,” says Hans, who has worked as a chef throughout the world, including Luxembourg, Germany and Canada. He has also participated in international cooking competitions.
“We look at trends in the hospitality industry, particularly in Europe and the United States, and pick up the best ideas for our menus at St George’s Hospital. Hospital food doesn’t need to be boring or bland – it should be quite the opposite.
“Food is an important part of patient recovery.”
Latest news
St George’s Hospital has entered an exciting new chapter in surgical innovation with the arrival of the Da Vinci Xi General Surgical Robot, the only one of its kind in the South Island. This advanced technology supports robotic-assisted surgery across gynaecology, colorectal, general, thoracic and urology specialties, expanding access to minimally invasive procedures for patients in Canterbury and beyond.
Christchurch, Friday 3 October 2025: More than 120 guests gathered to mark a significant milestone as St George’s Eye Care celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The specialist private ophthalmic practice, based within St George’s Hospital, has become a cornerstone of expert cataract and ophthalmic treatment in Christchurch and across the South Island.
Born and raised in Canterbury, Victoria Leov began her career here as a nurse after completing her studies at Ara. Starting her clinical career in General Practice and Oncology gave her a strong foundation in patient care and a deep appreciation for the difference that skilled, compassionate teams make every day.
Every day, patients walk through St George’s doors seeking care, comfort and reassurance and the feedback they share continues to reflect the warmth and professionalism they experience from our teams.
St George’s Eye Care is now offering a cutting-edge genetic test to assess glaucoma risk, thanks to Clinical Director and Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr Paul Baddeley, one of the first South Island providers to support this advancement.
We’re proud to share that St George’s Hospital has been awarded the McFedries Trophy at the 2025 Christchurch Beautifying Association Awards, recognising the entire hospital site for its outstanding gardens and beautifully maintained green spaces.