Latest news with #WellingtonHospital
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
'He went silent': Fears for NZ nurse Vanron Ngoun missing overseas
Vanron Ngoun, also known as Van, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May. Photo: Supplied / Facebook A close friend and flatmate of a 60-year-old Wellington man on holiday in Europe says his family are extremely concerned after not hearing from him for two weeks. Clive Aspin said Wellington Hospital nurse Vanron Ngoun, also known as Van, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May. "He was sending us regular updates about his travels and what a great time he was having since he left New Zealand on May 15th. Then suddenly he went silent." Van Ngoun, 2017. Photo: Supplied / Facebook He said Ngoun, who was travelling by himself, had always kept in contact during overseas trips. "It is absolutely, totally out of character. "To suddenly not hear from him is completely unlike him and extremely concerning." He said Ngoun's family in Cambodia also stopped hearing from him on 27 May. "They are deeply concerned. "He has a very close relationship with his sister in Phnom Penh, and she has been trying to contact him but has had no response." He said Ngoun was due to take a flight from Milan to Cambodia via Bangkok and Qatar on 30 May. Aspin wanted authorities to verify whether his friend, a long-time New Zealand resident and Australian citizen, got on that flight. "The level of support from Australian authorities has been almost non-existent. "We want to know they are at least keeping their eyes open for any person with his name that comes to their attention." He said they had also notified police, embassies, and hospitals in Italy, Qatar, Thailand, and New Zealand. He wanted New Zealand police to engage with the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol. He urged people living in or travelling through Naples, or anyone with connections in the region, to keep an eye out and contact authorities if they had any information about Ngoun's whereabouts. Van Ngoun, 2015. Photo: Supplied / Facebook A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed that they were aware of the situation. "We have been in touch with the Australian High Commission in New Zealand and understand that consular assistance is being provided by Australian authorities." Police confirmed they had received a missing person's report. "We have made some initial enquiries as much as we are able. "In the instance of someone reported missing in another country, the matter is ultimately under the jurisdiction of authorities in that country. "Likewise, any consular assistance would be provided by the country of the individual's citizenship." Police said they would potentially look to engage with Interpol in the coming days if no further leads emerged. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Ngoun travelled on an Australian passport and that his disappearance is incredibly worrying and concerning for his family and friends. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
2 days ago
- Health
- 1News
'Help us': Friend of Wgtn nurse missing in Europe left in limbo
The friend of a Wellington nurse missing in Europe is distraught and feels "shunted from pillar to post" with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs unable to offer support due to his citizenship status. Vanron Ngoun, 60, known as Van, is a New Zealand resident and an Australian citizen of Cambodian descent. When approached by 1News, MFAT said consular assistance would be provided by the government of citizenship. Ngoun was last heard from on May 27 when he messaged friends from Naples, Italy and has been unresponsive since. He was due to fly from Milan to Cambodia, via Doha and Bangkok on May 30. He moved to New Zealand seven years ago, qualified as a registered nurse two years ago, and now works at Wellington Hospital. ADVERTISEMENT Vanron Ngoun is a registered nurse who works at Wellington Hospital. (Source: Supplied) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the situation was "incredibly worrying and concerning" for Ngoun's family and friends. "The individual has travelled on the Australian passport. Having said that, MFAT's system would work with the Australian systems to see if there's any support they need." Dr Clive Aspin, Van's close friend and long-time flatmate, said he was a "well-seasoned traveller" and that he was heading from Italy to Cambodia to visit his family. "He's a really kind, compassionate person who's lived through a lot of adversity, and he knows how to provide care and support to people when they need it most, and that's what he needs now. He needs us." Aspin said he had contacted the Australian High Commission in Wellington, the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra and the Australian Embassy in Rome. Vanron Ngoun. (Source: Supplied) ADVERTISEMENT "We need the local police here to contact Interpol so that they can ascertain where Van is and where he's been, and they have a copy of his passport number, they will know when he's crossed the border," he told 1News. "We need them to action that to understand whether he's actually left Italy." The level of anxiety was "just overwhelming", Aspin said. "It really is totally of character for him to go silent like this, and we just want to be there. We just want to be in a place where we can help him if he needs our help." Vanron Ngoun has been a New Zealand resident for seven years. (Source: Supplied) Police told 1News in a statement that in the instance of someone going missing in another country the matter was under the jurisdiction of authorities in that country. "We can confirm NZ Police have received a missing person's report and have made some initial enquiries as much as we are able. "NZ Police would potentially look to engage with Interpol in coming days if there are no further leads that emerge." 1News has reached out to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Watch: Health Minister Simeon Brown reveals more details on new Wellington Hospital ED
Health Minister Simeon Brown has revealed more details on Wellington Regional Hospital's major upgrade. Brown, alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis are speaking to media outside Wellington Hospital. Wellington Hospital is one of four hospitals to get Emergency Department (ED) upgrades during stage one the government's multi-billion dollar plan to rebuild hospitals . The previously funded $40 million design and enabling works for the new emergency department are already underway. The ICU expansion is expected to be delivered by 2027, ahead of the new emergency department becoming operational in 2029. In addition to this, the government said Wellington Hospital will receive 126 additional beds and treatment spaces. Brown said the expanded emergency department would better meet the needs of patients. "Wellington's ED is currently one of the poorest performing in the country, with outdated infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose. The current layout is contributing to long wait times and people leaving without receiving care," he said. The new ED will include 34 additional treatment spaces, boosting capacity from 53 to 87. It will also provide 36 new inpatient beds which Brown said would help enable smoother transitions from ED into appropriate care. Another 36 new outpatient consult and treatment spaces will improve access to follow-up care and ease pressure on acute services, he added. More to come... Watch the livestream above.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Improved Mental Health Response Begins At Waikato Emergency Department
Press Release – New Zealand Government The initiative was first launched at Middlemore Hospital in September 2024, since then services have got underway at Auckland City Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey will mark the official start of peer support specialists in Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department in Hamilton today. It makes Waikato Hospital the fifth major hospital to implement the service since September last year. 'We know that this service is making a real difference for people presenting in mental health distress or crisis at busy emergency departments. We are moving quickly to rollout this important service around New Zealand, and it has been incredibly humbling to hear how it's making a genuine impact for vulnerable Kiwis in a time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'Having a peer support specialist available to listen and understand what someone is going through, share their story, and reassure them there is a way forward can provide enormous comfort when people need it most. Importantly, they can also better connect people with community mental health services, if needed, and help with a better outcome for the individual. 'I believe the peer support workforce has been underutilised for too long in New Zealand. There is a big opportunity to better utilise it as we also roll out Crisis Cafes around New Zealand and look to refresh the eating disorders strategy.' The initiative was first launched at Middlemore Hospital in September 2024, since then services have got underway at Auckland City Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. A further three emergency departments will be added in the near future. 'I've been clear that one of the biggest barriers to people accessing timely mental health and addiction support is workforce shortages. While this Government is focused on significantly growing the clinical workforce, we need to make sure we are also looking to innovative ideas, like peers in ED, to make sure we are doing everything we can help New Zealanders access quality support when and where they need it,' Mr Doocey says. Note: In March 2024, the Government announced that eight Peer Support Specialist services would be stood up across two years using uncommitted funding. Each Peer Support Specialist service is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000 per hospital. A $1 million workforce fund has also been set up by the Government to provide Level 4 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) training and specific training for working in emergency departments
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Improved Mental Health Response Begins At Waikato Emergency Department
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey will mark the official start of peer support specialists in Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department in Hamilton today. It makes Waikato Hospital the fifth major hospital to implement the service since September last year. 'We know that this service is making a real difference for people presenting in mental health distress or crisis at busy emergency departments. We are moving quickly to rollout this important service around New Zealand, and it has been incredibly humbling to hear how it's making a genuine impact for vulnerable Kiwis in a time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'Having a peer support specialist available to listen and understand what someone is going through, share their story, and reassure them there is a way forward can provide enormous comfort when people need it most. Importantly, they can also better connect people with community mental health services, if needed, and help with a better outcome for the individual. 'I believe the peer support workforce has been underutilised for too long in New Zealand. There is a big opportunity to better utilise it as we also roll out Crisis Cafes around New Zealand and look to refresh the eating disorders strategy.' The initiative was first launched at Middlemore Hospital in September 2024, since then services have got underway at Auckland City Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. A further three emergency departments will be added in the near future. 'I've been clear that one of the biggest barriers to people accessing timely mental health and addiction support is workforce shortages. While this Government is focused on significantly growing the clinical workforce, we need to make sure we are also looking to innovative ideas, like peers in ED, to make sure we are doing everything we can help New Zealanders access quality support when and where they need it,' Mr Doocey says. Note: In March 2024, the Government announced that eight Peer Support Specialist services would be stood up across two years using uncommitted funding. Each Peer Support Specialist service is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000 per hospital. A $1 million workforce fund has also been set up by the Government to provide Level 4 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) training and specific training for working in emergency departments
