In Memoriam: Chris Hutchinson 1971-2022

By Frazer Anderson                                                           

Chris Hutchinson, leading light of Northland geriatrics, died in April of skin cancer at the age of 51. Chris was born with congenital kidney disease and developed end stage renal failure in childhood. Two successive live related donor transplants kept his show on the road but the combination of his immunosuppression and Aotearoa’s flimsy ozone layer eventually took its toll.

Chris knew from an early age that he would not “make old bones” but he lived his life as a bundle of energy, achieving his dream to qualify as a doctor and embarking enthusiastically on all manner of outdoor pursuits including ski racing, motorbiking and tramping all the way up Kilimanjaro. His knack of giving his whole attention to whatever he was doing made him a brilliant photographer whose prints light up our offices and homes.

After adventures in England and Tasmania Chris settled a long way from his native Otago as a Consultant in Whangarei. He shaped services for older people in Northland for over 10 years, very much the face of the department at a time when there were few SMOs.

When people talk of their memories of Chris some words keep coming up: kind, helpful, funny and most of all honest. Honest with his patients and their whanau, honest with his colleagues, honest with himself.

He was open and caring with his patients whether they were improving or he was bringing bad news. He could be fierce with managers and staff when he thought his patients were getting a rough deal.

Chris set up our Orthogeriatric service and was an early enthusiast for the ANZ Hip Fracture Registry. He cared little for rank or status: if you were making older people’s lives better he was your mate – if not, not. He was passionate about teaching and supporting junior doctors. As a result he was loved by our Gerontology nurse specialists and other team members, and practically worshipped by a generation of orthopaedic HOs. Latterly he found himself the sole Kiwi among a group of SMOs from the UK and, characteristically, was wittily disparaging and hugely helpful to his new colleagues in equal measure.

COVID came at a bad time for Chris. Ready to return to work after a bout of ill health he found the hospital doors barred due to his immunosuppression. Frustrated and still recovering from major surgery he may have been, but he was an unstinting cheerleader from the sidelines. The moment the ban was lifted he plunged back into his work. Anyone who asked about his somewhat battered appearance was told “Hey, you should see the shark!”

Chris loved his work, second only to how much he loved his family… though his dog Sherbet would protest about being bumped from second place. And his huge extended family and his friends loved Chris

There’s a saying that a man still lives while his name is still spoken. Chris’ name will be spoken amongst us for many years to come.

Rere ki tawhiti, rere pai e, to tatou hoa – fly far and fly well, our friend.