John Chirnside Hyndman 1967 – 1970

Dr John Chirnside Hyndman of Kaiapoi was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Health and Innovation in 2017.

John has had a 40-year career as a General Practitioner and an Anaesthetist.

John worked with Mr Ivan Batistich over the course of 12 years to develop the HYVAN, a low-cost, portable anaesthetic machine about the size of a microwave oven that is able to be deployed anywhere, even where there is no power. 

The idea behind the HYVAN was a reliable anaesthetic machine that could be used in Third World locations and was simple enough to operate with basic training. The HYVAN is for use primarily in challenging environments: Developing countries, natural disasters, ambulances, remote locations, war zones or where mains electricity is unreliable and portability is a requirement. The HYVAN is a fraction of the size and cost of most anaesthetic machines used in New Zealand and will carry out virtually all of the same functions with reliable simplicity, to the point where it can be repaired in a hospital workshop if required. The HYVAN will be manufactured locally in Christchurch following completion of final clinical trials. For their development of the HYVAN they won the New Zealander of the Year Innovator Award in 2016 and have been recognised by the World Congress of Anaesthetists.

Education - While at King’s, John was a member of the school Athletics team. He won the Michael Cooper prize for gaining first place in the Intermediate Mile in 1969 at the school Athletic sports. He was a member of the Cross Country Harrier team that won the teams event in the Otago and Southland Interschools Cross Country Championships.

On leaving King’s John attended the University of Otago. In 1977 he was awarded MB ChB: Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery. He gained the Diploma in Obstetrics from University of Otago in 1980. In 1986 he became a Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.

On completing his studies John held positions as:

• House Surgeon Southland Hospital · 1978 – 1980
• Solo General Practitioner Auckland · 1980 – 1983
• Registrar Anaesthesia: Southampton and Leeds England · 1983 – 1986
• Registrar Anaesthesia Dunedin Public Hospital · 1986 – 1988  Chairman Medical Staff, Chairman Anaesthetic Department
• Specialist Anaesthetist – Southland Hospital · 1988 – 1991 · Park Hospital Trustee, Founder and Hospice Director
• Specialist Anaesthetist – Dunedin Public Hospital · 1991 – 1993 
• Specialist Anaesthetist – Marlborough Hospital · 1993 – 1999  · Chairman Marlborough Health Trust, Chairman Medical Staff, Chairman Churchill Trust, Director Hospice
• Specialist Anaesthetist  – Mercy Hospital, Dunedin · 1999 – 2013
• Freelance Specialist Anaesthetist Christchurch – 2013 – 2018
• Self-employed Manufacturer of Anaesthetist Equipment in Christchurch – 2018 – Present.