Nurses at Health NZ public hospitals and health services plan to strike from 7am to 11pm on both Tuesday 2 September and Thursday 4 September. Emergency departments will be open for emergencies only.
GPs, after-hours and urgent care clinics, and other community health providers are not affected by the strikes and will continue to operate as normal.
Industrial action — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Oraexternal link
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). If you have had a successful trial of CPAP therapy through Christchurch Hospital Sleep Health Services you will keep the CPAP device to use long term.
Sleep Health Services is responsible for setting the air pressure settings on your CPAP device. You should use CPAP every time you sleep. If you are not using the device, Sleep Health Services will ask you to return the equipment.
You should also take your CPAP device with you on holiday and if you are admitted to hospital.
Some people need to have a medical review that follows NZTA or CAA guidelines. This medical review may include your healthcare provider checking your CPAP usage. If you need this, you will have been given a cloud-compliant CPAP device. You will have been asked to download a monitoring app for your Apple or Android device that will record device usage information. You should take the information from the app to your review appointment with your healthcare provider.
You should be able to manage without your CPAP device for 1 or 2 days without significant risk. But you may start to feel tired due to a disturbed sleep.
Important — do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery if you are sleepy.
You will need to look after your device so it keeps working properly. There is some regular maintenance that you need to do.
Only Sleep Health Services should adjust the air pressure on your CPAP machine.
Check the filter and brush off any dust.
If you have hospital-funded CPAP therapy, you will be eligible for a replacement mask every year.
If you need replacement masks more often than this, you may need to pay for them yourself. You can buy masks from USL Medical, Cansleep or Sleep Well Clinic. See below for their contact details.
If you have problems with your humidifier, your therapy or your device there are things you can do to try to fix the problem.
Problem — water is building up in your tube or mask.
Solution — reduce your device's humidity one setting at a time.
Problem — you are waking with a dry nose or mouth.
Solution — increase your device's humidity one setting at a time or switch to using a full-face mask.
Problem — your device is blowing cold air.
Solution — increase the temperature of your room.
Problem — your mask is leaking around the seal.
Solution — refit your mask and adjust the straps if you need to. You may need to practise putting the mask on and off in front of the mirror. Check that your mask is clean.
Problem — the hose is making a noise.
Solution — it is most likely that air is escaping. Check that the hose has no holes. Also check it is connected to your machine and mask properly.
Problem — you are getting sore eyes.
Solution — check the position of your mask and aim to have as little air leak into your eyes as possible.
Problem — the pressure is too high to get to sleep.
Solution — use the ramp feature on your device if it has this feature. Read the instruction manual if you are unsure.
Problem — you are snoring even when you sleep with CPAP.
Solution — the air pressure on your device may need to be changed. (If you have been discharged from Sleep Health Services to our community provider, contact USL Medical. If you have not been discharged, contact Sleep Health Services.)
Problem — your device is not working.
Solution — check the power is on at the wall. Check the power cable is connected to the device properly and is in good condition. Make sure the filter is clean. (If you have been discharged from Sleep Health Services, contact USL Medical. If you have not been discharged, contact Sleep Health Services.)
