How easy is to get a new machine?

[Jan1ce]

My CPAP (Resmed 8) is now six years old. I bought it in Canada before coming to the UK and it's now a bit bulky and heavy for me since I have arthritis and travel with the machine. As well, I spend time with my son who smokes so I don't seem to be able to get rid of the general smokiness of it.

At the London Chest Hospital, when I asked, they told me they often don't replace machines until they are about ten years old. That was a few years ago. What sort of hoops would I have to jump through to get a newer one? What sort of things should I say?

I'm visiting Canada and thought about buying one here since the health plan covers 75% of the cost, leaving me with only about $200 to pay myself. However, they are out of stock and I'm returning to the UK in a few days. My next appointment at the LCH is in June so I'm prepared to wait if I think I might be successful in getting a newer one then.

What are your thoughts?

[Sleep2Snore]

I don't know if you will get one. The NHS is so cash strapped that we tend to be left with the machine we get until it dies.
You could ask, but I think the answer will be much along that lines!
Might have been best if you had managed to buy one when you were over there.
The clinic may offer to maintain the machine if it is a model they stock, depending on their policy towards bought machines. As I don't attend there I can't say for certain what they will do or offer.
If it were me, I would buy one while you were over there or get it sent to you.

[Jan1ce]

Thanks for your reply to this, which I've only just seen! I couldn't get the machine in Canada since they needed me to do a quite extensive sleep study and I couldn't commit to that. I've been waiting for six months to get my next appointment with the LTNE and that comes up in two or three weeks so I'll see what they say about the possibilities. They do indeed maintain the machine every year without question and have been fantastic. So it's just a waiting game really. I did look up how much it would cost to buy one in Londoon and it's over £600 so that won't happen!

[Sleep2Snore]

If anyone is cash strapped and want a second hand machine as a back up try here http://www.secondwindcpap.com/ they will ship to the UK, phone for details.
Came recommended by someone who has bought from them before.

[Ellen @ Intus]

If anyone is cash strapped and want a second hand machine as a back up try here http://www.secondwindcpap.com/ they will ship to the UK, phone for details.
Came recommended by someone who has bought from them before.

If anyone is considering purchasing a CPAP machine online, be aware that if you are ordering through a US site, the products are US stock so they might not have CE approval and therefore would be illegal to sell in Europe. This could potentially cause problems at customs and your CPAP machine might be refused entry. This might not be the case but it is always best to take precautions and make sure that the products from the website you're ordering from are CE approved.