Respiratory — Waikato

Respiratory at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waikato covers diagnostic and treatment of general respiratory and sleep disorders.

Contact us

To contact a Waikato Hospital department or service:

To contact the sleep lab directly:

Where to find us

The respiratory clinic is at:

Reception F, Level 2
Meade Clinical Centre
Waikato Hospital
183 Pembroke Street
Hamilton 3204

Waikato Hospital map

Waikato Hospital map [PDF, 359 KB]

Services we provide

Respiratory services provided by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waikato include:

  • a comprehensive inpatient (ward) service
  • clinic and outreach services, including nurse-led clinics with highly skilled nurses specialising in:
    • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • asthma
    • cystic fibrosis
    • lung cancer
  • a full respiratory function laboratory
  • sleep service with a 3-bed sleep laboratory
  • chest conference — weekly multi-disciplinary sessions where complex cases are discussed.

We work closely with general medicine and thoracic surgery specialties at Waikato Hospital and with the regional cancer services.

It has a research unit with dedicated research nurses.

Sleep clinic

The sleep clinic is an outpatient department within the respiratory department. Our focus is to diagnose and treat patients with disordered breathing during sleep, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Investigations may include:

  • sleep studies
  • blood tests
  • sleep diary
  • other investigations and tests.

Sleep studies, where your sleep is monitored by sensors in our sleep lab or at your home, are not relevant for all patients.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (external link)

What happens at a sleep study

Open all

Polysomnography is a comprehensive sleep study performed in a hospital facility called a sleep laboratory. Because this test collects a lot of data, it can be useful for a wide range of people, including those who have more complicated medical backgrounds or are not suitable for a home (portable) study.

What to expect if you are referred for a test in the sleep lab

  • You will be sent an appointment for the sleep lab, and a list of things to be aware of, what to bring and where to go. The appointment is for an overnight study, so you are regarded as an inpatient similar to a patient on a ward.
  • We may contact you to confirm your booking and check details such as mobility requirements. Let us know if you have any special needs.
  • You will arrive at the sleep lab at 7pm and be given your own room.
  • During the evening you will have a number of sensors applied to your skin and body — these do not hurt, but can feel a little strange.
  • In the morning the sensors are removed and you are able to dress and prepare for your day as normal.
  • You will be discharged around 7am, or earlier if you prefer.
  • You may trial continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy during your sleep study night, or be offered a trial at a later date if significant obstructive sleep apnoea is identified.
  • You may be offered treatment the morning following your study and will be given all the information you need if that is the case.
  • You will be sent a follow-up appointment.

Portable (home) sleep studies are one of the tests used to investigate sleep disorders. Consisting of a simple recorder and several attached sensors, portable studies are often performed in the comfort of your own home, and are particularly useful to identify problems with breathing during sleep.

What to expect if you are referred for a home sleep study

  • You will be sent an appointment to come to the sleep clinic.
  • During your appointment you will be issued with a portable study unit, and provided with a demonstration plus simple, clear written instructions.
  • You take home the study unit, wear it overnight, and then return it to the sleep clinic the following morning.
    Data from your study will be downloaded and reviewed thoroughly.
  • You may be offered a trial of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy if your study shows you have obstructive sleep apnoea — usually no overnight stay at the sleep lab is needed.