Sleep services

About

Coronavirus update - suspension of routine sleep services appointments

Due to coronavirus, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone all planned clinic appointments until further notice. This is to allow respiratory doctors, nurses and clinic staff to support the care of patients admitted to hospital with breathing problems.

Please do not come into hospital for your appointment unless we contact you and ask you to. A doctor will review your case notes in advance of your appointment, and you will be contacted by letter or phone only if there is an urgent recommendation for your care.

As of Monday 30 March 2020, all planned clinic appointments will be postponed.

We will send you a new appointment by post, unless you have opted to be contacted by text or email. If you have any urgent concerns, please contact our secretary on the number below. We will take a message and ask a respiratory doctor to call you.

Charing Cross: 0203 311 7198, 0203 311 7288, 0203 311 7174

Please do not call this number for general queries about coronavirus.

Our sleep service provides a comprehensive assessment of patients with a range of sleep disorders that are causing problems with daytime sleepiness.

We have two specialist sleep consultants, who can see new patients at Charing Cross Hospital, who offer specialist diagnostic sleep studies and treatment in our purpose-built sleep centre.

Follow up appointments for continuous positive airway pressure treatment (CPAP) can also be arranged at St Mary's Hospital.

Conditions and treatments

Common disorders of sleep that we diagnose and treat include:

obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
nocturnal hypoventilation
restless legs syndrome
periodic limb movement disorder
circadian rhythm disorders
narcolepsy
rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder
parasomnias

A variety of treatments are available depending on the nature and severity of the sleep disorder diagnosed. In some cases, particularly if the sleep disorder is mild, changes in lifestyle may be all that is required to improve the problem. We may advise treatments such as weight loss, changing the environment you sleep in ('sleep hygiene') or changing the position in which you sleep.

In the case of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome, CPAP may be recommended. Patients can usually be started on CPAP treatment, if required, the morning after their diagnostic sleep study and receive long-term follow-up and support from the scientific staff at the sleep centre.

If narcolepsy or narcolepsy with cataplexy are diagnosed, the use of specialist medications in combination with lifestyle changes may be required.

Diagnostic sleep studies offered by our service

respiratory polygraphy
transcutaneous pco2
polysomnography
multiple sleep latency test
maintenance of wakefulness test
oxford sleep resistance (OSLER) test
actigraphy

The sleep service originated from a research laboratory with a long-established history of research in the control of breathing during sleep. The service achieved special commendation at the BTS Silver Jubilee Awards in 2007 and won an Acorn award for clinical engagement in 2008.