How do I get referred?
If you have symptoms of a sleep disorder, which have not improved by making simple changes to your sleep habits or other aspects of your lifestyle, then see your GP about being referred to a sleep clinic such as the one run at Royal Papworth Hospital.
Patients seen in our sleep centre are referred either by their GP, a hospital doctor or another doctor who has been caring for them. You will come under the care of one of the centre’s five consultants who specialise in sleep medicine: Dr Ian Smith, Dr Tim Quinnell, Dr Mike Davies, Dr Nick Oscroft or Dr Martina Mason. They will assess the best way of looking into your sleep disorder.
You may be asked initially to carry out a simple sleep study in your own home to look at your breathing during sleep or you may first be seen in one of the outpatient clinics. Some patients are admitted directly for a complex sleep study (polysomnogram) but others may need this after consultation or a simpler home-based study.
You will be sent full details about what to expect with the letter giving you details about your appointment. Once you have completed your tests, staff will discuss the possibilities for your treatment with you. If this requires specialist supervision, staff will continue to monitor your progress but if your treatment plan can be carried out by your GP, he or she will be provided with all the information about your results and proposed treatment.
Respiratory disorders
If you have a respiratory disorder, you will probably be referred by a hospital doctor. You will come under the care of one of the centre’s five consultants who specialise in sleep me.They will assess the best way of managing your respiratory disorder.