Is our sleep service right for me?

Our service is likely to help you if...

• You snore loudly, have had apnoea witnessed by a partner, or wake unrefreshed despite adequate time in bed

• You struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep for three or more nights a week for at least a month

• You have daytime sleepiness that affects driving, work, or relationships

• Your blood pressure is poorly controlled despite medication

• You have atrial fibrillation, treatment-resistant hypertension, or diabetes and your sleep has not been formally assessed

• You want a clear diagnosis before committing to CPAP, device purchase, or long-term medication

• You are prepared to follow through with a treatment plan if something is found

Our service is probably not the right answer if...

• Your only problem is occasional short nights due to lifestyle choices - sleep hygiene and consistent schedule usually suffice

• You want a sleep study for performance optimisation without any symptoms - wearables are often enough for this use case

• You are clearly qualified for NHS assessment (severe symptoms, safety-critical occupation, heart failure) and can wait - NHS sleep studies are free and well-run where they are commissioned

• Your primary problem is a severe complex neurological disorder (narcolepsy, suspected central apnoea, REM-behaviour disorder with other neurological signs) - these need specialist neurology / in-lab polysomnography

• You need paediatric sleep assessment - we do not assess patients under 18

Specific groups who should proceed with particular care

Safety-critical workers (HGV, PSV, pilot, train driver) with suspected apnoea have DVLA / medical reporting obligations. We can still assess and treat, but you need to understand the regulatory implications - see our DVLA article.

Patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, atrial fibrillation, or established cardiovascular disease should have apnoea formally excluded; the absolute risk reduction from treatment is highest in this group.

Women presenting with insomnia around menopause need a different diagnostic approach - we usually combine sleep assessment with menopause review where symptoms overlap.

What a first assessment with us looks like

• 30-minute GP consultation reviewing your sleep history, symptoms, and goals

• WatchPAT One device sent to you for one or two nights of home sleep study

• Full interpretation of the sleep study with a written report within one week

• A second consultation to discuss results and agree a treatment plan

• If CPAP is indicated, referral to our preferred device supplier with titration support

• If CBT-I is indicated, enrolment in our structured 12-week programme

When we will send you to the NHS instead

We will refer or signpost to NHS when: you have suspected narcolepsy (complex neurology pathway), severe paediatric-onset sleep disorders, suspected REM-behaviour disorder with emerging movement symptoms, or you are safety-critical and need the fully documented NHS pathway for occupational reasons. The NHS sleep service remains world-class when you can access it.

The honest bottom line

Sleep is one of the clearest examples of private being faster than NHS without being better. If NHS is available to you and you can wait, it is excellent. If you cannot wait, or want your sleep care integrated with the rest of your health, this service is set up for that.