11 Oct 2019

Oncologist Chris Jackson remembers his friend Blair Vining

From Checkpoint, 5:22 pm on 11 October 2019

An Oncologist says New Zealand owes Southland man Blair Vining a debt of gratitude for the precious time he spent campaigning for a better health system.

Blair died on Friday morning. The father of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year and was told even though he only had days to live he would have to wait two months for a urgent appointment.

That prompted him to organise a petition calling for a National Cancer Agency - something the government has since promised.

Oncologist Chris Jackson says although everyone knew this day was coming - it's indescribably tough to lose someone as selfless as Blair.