N95's are recognised as the best masks to wear to prevent catching Covid-19 - they're the ones all our MIQ staff are wearing.
But many of our nurses say they're just not being provided for hospital staff, leaving many to buy their own.
New Zealand Nursing Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku has told Checkpoint she is not confident that nurses in the most high risk settings are getting N95 masks.
"We're not confident. Certainly some of our members that are phoning in and are in those areas, such as emergency departments, access to PPE, N95s has been incredibly difficult.
"The DHB will say that there's not a supply issue, which is really different from what our nurses are saying."
She says the issue is being raised within each DHB. "I don't think it's been well received by some of those within management positions, but as a union and a professional group will continue to raise it to the Ministry of Health and hopefully it'll get addressed.
"The issue that we do have is the Ministry of Health guidelines suggest surgical masks are adequate. Now that in itself is a problem for us because our nurses are saying if we're dealing with Omicron ... then why aren't we being given the best adequate protection through N95 masks?"
