If you have COVID-19, influenza or other respiratory illnesses
Please stay home until you are symptom-free. For help treating your symptoms pharmacies have a range of products including lozenges, cough mixture, nasal sprays, and rehydration products.
Signs that you need to call for help or advice when unwell with a respiratory illness
- Have severe trouble breathing or chest pain
- Feel very confused or not thinking clearly
- Feel faint or pass out (lose consciousness)
Call Healthline 24/7 on 0800 358 5453 or your own family doctor if:
- You have more trouble breathing than usual – can you finish a sentence when speaking? Can you get up and to the bathroom or make a drink without running out of breath?
- Your symptoms are getting worse
- You start getting better, then get worse
- You have symptoms of severe dehydration such as having a very dry mouth and passing on a little urine (pee/mimi)
- Feeling very light-headed
- Persistent fever and/or chills that you can’t manage at home
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea which goes on for more than 24 hours
Acute dental problems during COVID-19 Alert Level 4
There are significant restrictions on the types of dental treatment that are able to be provided while the Covid-19 virus poses a threat.
Anyone with an acute dental problem in Canterbury or the West Coast can phone 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz (8am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri) for assistance.
After your call, a dentist or dental therapist will make contact to determine what treatment is needed and make appropriate arrangements.
The Canterbury DHB’s dental department provides specialist dental care to people in the Canterbury region. Please note: It is also a tertiary referral centre for the West Coast and Nelson and Marlborough regions.
Depending on your illness, there are different places you and your whānau can go for health care on the West Coast.
Remember registering with a general practice team is really important for you and your family. A GP team can develop a relationship with you to have a much better understanding of your unique healthcare needs.
Emergency
In a medical or mental health emergency, call 111 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Find out more about when to call 111…
The emergency department is only for critical and life-threatening situations, such as head injuries, chest pain, breathing trouble, broken bones, and severe bleeding. Find out more about Emergency Department services…
Info about the Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre Emergency Department
Health clinics – Care around the clock
For almost all non-urgent illnesses and injuries, you should contact your local health clinic first. Visit here to find a health clinic near you.
Even at night and on weekends when the clinic is closed, a nurse will be available to answer the phone and give you free advice. You can also call HealthLine at 0800 611 116 for free professional health advice at any time. More about HealthLine…
Your local health team is equipped to deal with a wide range of health issues, and can give you the best advice on where to go if you need help from another service.
Self care
A lot of minor illnesses and injuries – such as colds, cuts and scrapes – don’t necessarily need to be seen by a professional.
You can treat minor pain and illnesses by using good hygiene, resting, eating well, drinking lots of water and taking over-the-counter medications as directed on the package.
Pharmacy/chemist
You can talk to staff at a pharmacy or chemist for advice on minor illnesses and injuries – such as headaches, minor allergies, and painful coughs. They can sell you some treatments and over-the-counter medications. Visit here to find a pharmacy/chemist near you…
For prescription medications, you will need to consult a doctor or prescribing nurse.
After hours clinic
Your GP team may advise you to visit an after-hours service. This may be if you have a medical condition that is not an emergency, but can’t wait 24 hours to be seen.
