Sleep Disorder service

Referrals come directly from General Practioners (GPs), (but are often filtered through Respiratory or Cardio Vascular Consultants, Sleep Physician and ENT Surgeons, Psychiatrists and Neurologists).

Please note that we are unable to accept self-referrals. Referrals from out of the area are welcome and both Consultants see all sleep disorders, except insomnia.

Following an agreement with the local CCG, the Sleep Disorders Unit can also accept internal referrals from other clinician’s, within the Trust. Letters should be sent to the Sleep Disorders Clinic and copied to the original referring GP and contain the phrase ‘Unless vetoed by Primary Care’.

It will then be up to the GP to contact the clinic, if the referral is to be refused. There may, of course, be a very valid reason for this, such as a referral already previously made to a different sleep centre.

The referral, once received, will be treated as a new GP referral.

• Sleep Apnoea
• Narcolepsy
• Snoring with Sleepiness
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Parasomnias
• REM sleep behaviour disorder
• Circadian Rhythm Disorders
• Idiopathic Hypersomnolence

• Respiratory Sleep Studies with Periodic Limb Sensors
• Respiratory Domiciliary Sleep Studies
• Full Polysomnography
• Multiple Sleep Latency Testing
• Maintenance Wakefulness Test
• Actigraphy
• CPAP
• Home Oximetry for Adult or Paediatrics
• Sleep Positional Training

We also have close links with our colleagues in:

• Anaesthetics
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Neurology
• Orthodontics
• Psychiatry
• Respiratory Medicine

Do I need to inform DVLA if I have Sleep Apnoea?

Actually you do If you have:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea which effects your ability to drive safely
• If you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (Sleep apnoea with sleepiness)

However, once the sleepiness has been successfully treated, there is no reason why you may not still hold a Category 1 (car) or Category 2 (HGV/Bus or Coach licence.

The DVLA will check with us periodically that your sleepiness remains treated annually (for category 2 licence holders only). As long as we are satisfied that you are no longer sleepy and that you are using your treatment properly, we will be happy to confirm to DVLA that we see no reason why your licence should not be continued.

Any referral for a professional driver/commercial driver, ie HGV, PSV or Taxi driver, should be marked as URGENT as we can fast track a sleep study to treatment.

Please note that we have treated many commercial drivers who received their treatment the day after their sleep study, so work is not interrupted but if you are concerned, please call the unit and ask to speak to the Manager, for an informal chat.

please visit:

or write to:

Drivers Medical Branch
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1TU