
Vietnam to ventilation: Sisters go on 18th birthday trip, one ends up in intensive care
Auri's first visit to hospital happened after she suffered symptoms of suspected dehydration.
'She had been on a bicycle tour, the temperature was high and she had drunk very little,' Law said.
The hospital ran blood tests, and carried out a chest X-ray and a CT scan. Despite her presentation, they couldn't find anything medically wrong, so they agreed it was dehydration, gave her some IV fluids and she went home.
At 1am the next morning, Auri tried to get out of bed but 'her legs just wouldn't work, and her uncle Lele rushed her immediately to the hospital', Staci Law said.
What was meant to be an adventurous trip to Vietnam to mark a milestone birthday has led to a teenager ending up in intensive care. Photo / Givealittle
Auri's uncle sent her mother a message to let her know what happened: 'He knew I'd be asleep given the time difference and as I have younger children.
'In the beginning, because all the tests were coming back clear, I wasn't overly concerned as I knew she was getting well taken care of and had her uncle, aunt and sister with her so she had a strong and supportive network right by her side.'
Law said that as time went on, her condition deteriorated severely and more tests were done, without any definitive diagnosis.
'I got extremely worried, and then when she was quickly transferred from the first hospital by ambulance to the second, so she could go into ICU, I was panicked, anxious and distressed.'
The team of neurologists are leaning towards Auri having a neurological condition called Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS).
GBS is an autoimmune disease in which her body attacks itself instead of attacking an infection, leaving her paralysed, Law said.
Auri Law left for Vietnam two weeks ago to celebrate her 18th birthday with her older sister Caea. Photo / Givealittle
Language barrier 'huge concern' for family
Law said navigating the language barrier has been a huge concern for the family from the start.
'Trying to describe symptoms like dizziness, wobbly legs, double vision was tricky and we feared that it would get lost in translation.
'We didn't want her symptoms to be overlooked, but we also wanted to make sure they knew exactly what we meant so she wasn't treated for the wrong thing.'
Because Auri can't currently see, she doesn't know who is entering her room or why.
'That's scary for her, and then you add the language barrier on top, and you have a pretty difficult situation.
'It's extremely unsettling as we can only monitor and help ease the anxiety when we are here during visiting hours, but in the mornings and evenings, she is all alone trying to navigate this solo with no way to reach out for her,' Law said.
What was meant to be an adventurous trip to Vietnam to mark a milestone birthday led to 18-year-old Auri Law being placed in intensive care, unable to see and needing help to breathe. Photo / Givealittle
Mother's plea for help
A Givealittle was set up to help the family with flights to get her sister home, Mum to Vietnam and any costs not covered by medical insurance.
Any excess funds will go towards medical costs for Caea and Auri once they return to New Zealand, such as therapy and treatments.
At the time of Auri's hospital admission, her mother was stuck in New Zealand and she made a plea for help.
'The last 48 hours+ have been hell. My child lays sedated, unmoving in a hospital bed in a foreign country, not understanding the language being spoken around her, and I need to get to her,' Staci Law said on Givealittle.
Staci Law was unable to talk to or see Auri over video call for five days, because no phones were allowed in the intensive care unit.
Since Staci Law landed in Vietnam to be with her daughter, there have been small improvements in Auri's condition.
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NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Waikato med school business case beats Auckland and Otago
Option 2 was a specialist medical training programme focused on rural health run by those two universities and was estimated to cost $10.2b, while option 3, the new medical school at Waikato, was estimated to cost $9.1b, making it the cheapest overall – although the University of Auckland has criticised the assumptions behind this costing. Director-General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati and University of Waikato vice-chancellor Professor Neil Quigley, watched by Health Minister at the time, Shane Reti, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, signing the Memorandum of Understanding for a third medical school in 2024. Photo / Mark Mitchell The Waikato medical school was also estimated to deliver greater benefits, leading to a benefit-cost ratio of 1.99, meaning each dollar spent on the school produced $1.99 in benefit. Option 1 and 2 had a ratio of 1.5 and 1.8 – placing them only narrowly behind Waikato. Health Minister Simeon Brown told the Herald the school was a 'game-changer for the long-term growth of our medical workforce in New Zealand'. 'Cabinet agreed to this proposal following the Ministry of Health undertaking a business case and a cost-benefit analysis which demonstrated this proposal would be the most effective at building this critical health workforce for New Zealand,' he said. The University of Auckland's Dean of Medical and Health Sciences Professor Warwick Bagg told the Herald he was 'deeply concerned' by the business case, which seemed to have a predetermined outcome: to favour the Waikato medical school the National Party took to the last election. He said the assumptions of the report were flawed. The capital cost for the new school at Waikato of $232 million was far greater than the other two options, which had costs of $49m and $81.5m respectively. The ongoing operational costs racked up over the years 2026 to 2042 were higher for the first two options, at $513.6m and $508m compared with $361.6m at Waikato. Bagg said this modelling made unfair and inaccurate assumptions about the existing two medical schools that put them at a disadvantage. For example, the business case said that it is 'more certain that Option 3, the Waikato school, has a lower operating cost … simply due to it being a shorter programme'. While it is correct that the Waikato Medical School is a shorter programme, tailored to just graduates, the students admitted the school will still have to offer an undergraduate programme somewhere, probably in New Zealand, which the Government will have to subsidise. Bagg said the cost of turning Waikato's students into graduates who can be admitted into the school isn't reflected in the business case. Lifting those costs out of the business case made Waikato look better overall. 'They are focused on the four-year graduate programme … they haven't focused on the three years that they'll have to do to get into that medical school,' he said. He said another way the high capital costs for Waikato have been 'offset' is the business case has found 'more benefits for the Waikato medical school'. The business case is particularly reliant on the assumption that far more Waikato graduates will go on to be GPs – and GPs who work rurally – than graduates of other schools. The business case found increasing capacity at the existing medical schools would result in just 23% of those graduates staying on to become GPs, while the joint rural training programme would result in 33% of its graduates becoming GPs. In the Waikato medical school's case, 38% of its graduates would become GPs. The business case notes that having a higher number of GPs in the community increases people's health. The fact the Waikato school provides the greatest number of GPs therefore weighs heavily in its favour. Benefits and costs of the three options analysed. Table / Ministry of Health Bagg said Sapere, who provided cost-benefit analysis for the business case, 'haven't used the data we provided them' to calculate the GP figure for the option of increasing capacity at Auckland And Otago. He said 'about 35%' of graduates from Auckland and Otago medical schools are working as GPs eight years after graduating – a far higher figure than the 23% quoted in the business case. He said this lower figure came from a survey of graduates' intentions when they graduated, not what they actually ended up doing. 'We told Sapere this assumption was incorrect,' he said. The assumptions for the number of GPs graduating from Waikato were based on figures from Australia's University of Wollongong Graduate School of Medicine, which will be a model for the Waikato school. Brown defended the modelling behind the business case. He said the school will 'offer a post-graduate medical qualification based on similar successful programmes in Australia'. 'These programmes include a year-long primary care placement and encourage students to work in primary care settings following graduation. The selection criteria of students alongside their long-term placements in primary care will both support a higher degree of these medical students to work in primary care after graduation,' he said. No expectation of ratepayer funding for med school – Brown Brown poured cold water on concerns councils could be asked to stump up for the new school. Brown's Cabinet paper suggested territorial authorities – local councils – are being lined up for a contribution to the school. A paragraph from the Cabinet paper progressing the school, which will be joint-funded by the Crown, the university and philanthropists, noted, '[t]he University of Waikato has identified $151.859 million which they will ... contribute towards the new medical school costs'. 'This contribution shows significant support for a new medical school from a range of stakeholders from private trusts and foundations, individuals, and territorial authorities'. But Brown told the Herald, 'as Minister of Health, I have no expectation that councils will financially contribute to the new Waikato Medical School'. University of Waikato vice-chancellor Neil Quigley told the Herald earlier this week about half of the university's $150m share of the school could come from donations. 'At the moment, we're well on the way to the 50% of donations just with a relatively small number of large trusts and very wealthy individuals so we don't see that as particularly challenging,' he said. Brown defends information release Labour's health spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall called for the business case to be published on Monday to show the assumptions underlying Cabinet's decision to proceed with the school. 'Treasury has raised concerns about this project. Decisions about the future of NZ's medical workforce are critical and must be transparent. The Government needs to release the costings quickly,' Verrall said. The business case was published by the Ministry of Health about 6pm on Friday, a time often associated with the Government trying to bury information because people are enjoying their weekend. Brown defended the timing of the release, saying: 'Cabinet made the decision to progress with the third medical school on Monday with officials tasked with preparing material for proactive release following this decision. 'Normally Cabinet decisions and supporting information are required to be proactively released 30 days following a decision, however due to the significant interest in this decision, this was sped up to ensure the information could be made available as quickly as possible.'


NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Pharmac must shift from being a gatekeeper of cost to an enabler of health
Their tireless advocacy, amplified by journalist Rachel Smalley's sharp campaigning and the lived experiences of thousands of New Zealanders, has helped shift this conversation from the margins to the mainstream. The public mood is shifting. Pharmac, once internationally respected for its fiscal restraint, now faces growing pressure to demonstrate its relevance in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. How Pharmac can transform into a health enabler: Cecilia Robinson writes that it's about reimagining what Pharmac is here to do. Photo / Getty Images The question is no longer whether Pharmac is doing the best it can with what it has, but whether its model is still fit for purpose. As someone who moved from Sweden, where access to modern treatments is standard, I was horrified to discover that many New Zealanders must turn to Givealittle to fund medicines available freely elsewhere. It's not just unfair. It's unthinkable. Therefore, the appointment of Natalie McMurtry as Pharmac's new chief executive comes at a critical time. While her background in Alberta's health system brings relevant experience, the task ahead is not just about leadership, it's about reimagining what Pharmac is here to do. Pharmac must shift from being a gatekeeper of cost to an enabler of health impact. Its role can no longer be confined to doing more with less. The public expects more transparency, compassion and to access medicines freely available in countries such as Australia, Ireland and Singapore. Pharmac's original model was developed in a different era, when the core challenge was controlling pharma companies, who were gaming the system, and skyrocketing costs. These issues are still important, but cost-effectiveness, particularly as measured through QALYs (Quality-Adjusted Life Years), is now too narrow a lens. It doesn't account for broader system benefits: medicines that prevent hospitalisation, help people stay in work, reduce caregiving pressure or support mental wellbeing. New Zealand's medicine gap persists despite a $604 million investment, with patient advocates urging change. Photo / 123rf We need to move towards a broader, health-impact framework. Medicines should not be viewed in isolation as a standalone budget line but as levers that can help to reduce pressure across the entire system. They reduce demand on emergency departments, improve quality of life and help address chronic conditions before they escalate. This evolution in thinking requires stronger alignment between Pharmac and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. As integrated care becomes the national direction, the way we fund medicines must reflect how those medicines contribute to overall system efficiency and patient outcomes. Pharmac's current structure, operating within a ring-fenced budget, has created artificial constraints that limit innovation. While it has helped secure competitive prices, it has also locked us into a rigid, risk-averse model that can't keep pace with the demands of modern medicine. To stay relevant, Pharmac must adopt smarter, more flexible funding approaches. This includes: ● Outcomes-based pricing: linking funding to real-world results, so high-cost drugs are only paid for if they work ● 'Access equity' funding: targeted budgets for treatments that don't fit traditional metrics, such as rare disease therapies ● Public-private co-investment: partnerships to enable earlier access to emerging or breakthrough treatments These models are already in use globally. New Zealand, with its small scale and centralised health system, is well placed to adopt and lead in this space but doing so will require political will and cross-agency collaboration. One of the strongest criticisms of Pharmac is that its decision-making too often overlooks the most marginalised. Equity must not be treated as a footnote, it must be central to how decisions are made. Pharmac must evolve to meet New Zealand's healthcare needs, advocates say. Photo / Getty Images That means asking tough but necessary questions: are Māori and Pacific patients missing out? Are people in rural communities being reached? Are high-cost treatments for small groups, such as children with rare conditions, being given a fair assessment? True equity means seeing value not only in volume, but in fairness. We must move away from one-size-fits-all measures of utility and toward a model that recognises the value of treating the under-served, the isolated and the overlooked. Pharmac has made efforts to improve its equity lens, but these steps need to be embedded and expanded. This includes involving communities earlier in decision-making, co-designing criteria for assessment and setting explicit targets to reduce access gaps. If there is one thing Pharmac must urgently regain, it is public trust. Right now, too many New Zealanders feel shut out of its processes, confused by its rationale and left behind by its pace. Trust won't be rebuilt through a communications campaign. The Pharmac chair, Paula Bennett, is pushing through some important reforms which require a fundamental shift in how Pharmac relates to the people it serves. That means: ● Transparent processes that clearly explain what's funded and why ● Better engagement with patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups ● A willingness to admit when the system isn't working and to try new things The leadership of new CEO McMurtry offers an opportunity to reset that relationship. Her described strengths, quiet achievement, systems thinking, and clinical experience, will need to be paired with openness, boldness, and humility. It's encouraging to see the appointment of Dr Dale Bramley as CEO of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. Bramley brings deep experience as a public health physician and former chief executive of the Waitematā District Health Board, along with a strong understanding of the health system from both clinical and leadership perspectives. Dr Dale Bramley has been appointed CEO of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, bringing extensive public health and leadership experience to the role. Photo / Dean Purcell His appointment provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen alignment between Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and Pharmac. As the country moves towards integrated care as the national model, our approach to funding medicines must also evolve, recognising the role modern medicines play in improving patient outcomes and driving overall system efficiency. Pharmac's future must align with where the health system is heading: more integrated, more proactive, more preventive. Medicines that enable self-management, support digital care, or reduce reliance on acute services are now core to how we deliver better outcomes. Health systems globally are shifting from volume to value. New Zealand must do the same. That requires moving beyond simple funding silos and embracing joined-up thinking, where medicine access is seen as a strategic investment, not just a cost centre. Pharmac has a unique role to play in this shift. But to fulfil it, the agency must move from cautious gate keeping to confident leadership. It must be willing to challenge legacy assumptions and champion bold ideas that better serve the public good. The real test is whether it can lead to a smarter, fairer, more compassionate approach to medicine access – one that reflects the realities of modern New Zealand, embraces equity, and evolves as science and society change. The opportunity is real. With the right leadership, the right frameworks and the courage to think differently, Pharmac can become not just a funding body but a force for health transformation. But that will take more than good intentions. It will require bold decisions, structural reform and a clear commitment to doing things differently. Tinkering at the edges won't cut it. The time for real change is now. Ultimately, Pharmac's legacy won't be defined by how tightly it managed its budget. It will be judged by how well it met the health needs of its people.

NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Coroner recommends changes after fatal charity boxing match
The 141-page report recommends that waivers and medical declarations be signed 'as close to the event as reasonably practicable'. It also recommends that they contain specific questions to 'draw out whether a competitor has suffered an actual or suspected head injury/concussion'. Parsons potentially suffered a concussion or head injury during training – weeks before his fight took place. Neither the event promoter nor doctor was made aware of the incident. Parsons' family argued that he wasn't fully aware of the risk involved in the event. The findings recommend greater education for participants. 'Consider a compulsory seminar, say, 12 weeks out from an event for competitors, their trainer, the event doctor, and any other relevant stakeholders. A competitor's family could be encouraged to attend too,' reads the coroner's findings. Parsons' family is pleased with that aspect of the coroner's findings. 'We're pleased about the emphasis on education and proper informed consent, because there never has been informed consent for this,' says Dr Pete Benny, Kain Parsons' father-in-law. Christchurch man Kain Parsons with his daughters. Parsons was killed in a charity boxing match in 2018. Photo / Supplied Kain Parsons Kain Parsons was 37 when he climbed into the ring for a charity boxing match. He was a novice fighter – but had a long and storied history of giving. '[He] would help anyone. All his friends and stuff – he was always doing jobs for them,' says his wife, Alana Parsons. Alana says her husband enjoyed the boxing training and was 'excited' about being asked to participate – but the opportunity to raise money for charity was what 'drew him to the event'. Parsons is remembered by his wife as 'a great dad' to his three children – and was 'just fun to be around'. 'He had so many contacts for an Australian [who] wasn't brought up in Christchurch. He seemed to know more people in Christchurch than I did, and I lived here all my life. It's just the person he was really,' said Alana. Parsons had played rugby up until his death and was known for his teamwork. 'He was just one of those guys that would talk to anyone and then make anyone feel sort of listened to,' said Alana. It was crucial to the Parsons family that the man who always listened could now be heard, even if he couldn't be there in person. The coroner's court would provide that platform and with it an opportunity to push for change in future corporate boxing events. 'He's not here to defend himself, and it's felt like my role for the last six years, I feel like I've had to,' said Alana. Accountability Kain Parsons' mother Cheryl Gascoigne told the Herald the coronial inquest had 'pulled my son's integrity apart'. She felt the finger of blame was often pointed at her son throughout the process. 'Many people that were part of that event insinuated that Kain was responsible for his death,' said Gascoigne. 'I sat through a week of listening to all parties that were involved in Kain's death and at no time did any one of those parties reflect and take responsibility for the part that they played in my son's death.' The coroner found that the referee for the fight could have done more. 'In terms of adverse comments, I have made a finding that [the referee] could have taken further, more focused available steps to assess Mr Parsons' ability to continue the match after the third standing eight count. I cannot make a finding of whether a further, more focused assessment would have resulted in an outcome that [the referee] should have called off the match. 'The above finding equates to there being available to [the referee] the opportunity to further assess Mr Parsons. It is not a finding that he should have called off the match. It is also not a finding that he was correct to allow it to continue. I am unable to make a finding on the evidence before me about whether the match should have been called off,' said the coroner. Kain Parsons with his three children. Photo / Supplied Legislative repeal The coroner's findings recommend the proposed repeal of the Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981 and the Boxing and Wrestling Regulations 1958 and that the Department of Internal Affairs reviews the legislative framework and regulations. It suggests the review should include the 'specific context' of corporate boxing 'to help achieve consistency and a single national standard'. 'Such review might include whether there is a need for a single central body to manage corporate boxing. The specific context of corporate boxing includes relatively novice fighters participating in a specialised sport generally known to carry inherent risks and as such subject to a legislative regime,' said the coroner. In a statement, Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said the act is outdated. 'Any death from combat sports is an avoidable tragedy that nobody wants to see happen in New Zealand. My thoughts are with Mr Parsons' family and friends during this difficult time. 'The Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981 is proposed to be repealed because it is outdated and only applies to boxing and wrestling associations; it does not cover other popular forms of combat sport, such as mixed-martial arts or variations of combat sport that carry greater risk. 'It is preferable to have one clear and modern legislative framework for all combat sports. Sport NZ are the lead co-ordinating agency considering current issues with combat sports, including a potential government response, and DIA are supporting them with this along with other relevant agencies. 'The repeal of the Boxing and Wrestling Act is proposed to be done through the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill which will proceed to select committee later this year. The public will be able to have their say during this process.' The Government's involvement is welcomed by Parsons' family – though Gascoigne is extremely cautious with her optimism. 'That will take many, many months if not years to come to fruition. And it will only come to fruition if all parties are prepared to tackle it with care, with duty of care in mind. And after what I saw in that court, I have no confidence that that will happen,' she said. The Parsons family: Kain, Alana and their three children. Kain suffered a severe head injury during the 2018 Fight for Christchurch charity boxing event. Photo / Supplied Coronial delay The coroner acknowledged the length of time between Parsons' death and the beginning of her inquest. 'Mr Parsons died in early November 2018 and the inquest took place approximately six years later. I became the coroner responsible for the inquiry into Mr Parsons' death in June 2021. As the inquiry has progressed, there have been various reasons for delay, largely relating to engaging expert witnesses and securing a courtroom for the inquest hearing. The time it has taken to reach the inquest is very regrettable,' she noted. The delay has made the grieving process difficult for Parsons' family. 'The delays and delays and delays don't allow the normal healing processes to occur because you're always waiting for something to happen,' says Pete Benny. 'A year or so ago, we kind of were in quite a good spot. We were sort of trying to move forward. This brings it all back again,' Alana added. His mother Gascoigne said it also impacted the inquest itself, saying that the coroner referred 'many times to the fact that it had been a very long time'. 'We did finally get an outcome, but then it was all around the length of time and the evidence that was available and 'I can't rule on that evidence because it's taken too long' and 'that evidence is no longer available to me' or whatever the case may be. I believe that we would have had a much firmer outcome had it been addressed earlier,' she said. Gascoigne believes the inquest was only heard last year because of steps the family themselves took to push it along. 'I know I'm highly emotive, but I feel that the justice system in the length of time it took to get here, and the only reason it did was because we as a family hired counsel to get them to bring it to the forefront,' said Gascoigne. 'It's been such a drawn-out process really, so it's tiring and it's still going, but I suppose in some ways there, there are things that will hopefully change how, you know, these fights are run,' says Alana Parsons.