Feasibility of a respiratory nurse specialist-led sleep disorder service in a district general hospital

Aim The burden of referrals to investigate sleep disorders has escalated considerably. In order to address this, the feasibility of a nurse-led sleep disorder clinic was investigated. Methods Sleep referrals were stratified on the basis of information contained within the primary care referral, and appropriate home-based sleep studies arranged if obstructive sleep apnoea was considered the most likely working diagnosis. Selected patients were started on continuous positive airway pressure treatment if deemed appropriate. Education was almost exclusively provided by specialist nursing staff or by means of validated information by the British Lung Foundation. Results Eighty patients were included in the respiratory nurse-led sleep service. Feedback from the patient questionnaire was positive and 59 patients were managed without requirement to attend consultant-led outpatient services. Non-sleep breathing disorders as the reason for daytime somnolence, and patients requiring referral to tertiary services, were identified. Conclusion Developing a respiratory nurse-led sleep service is adequate to identify non-sleep breathing disorders, is fit for purpose, functions broadly in accordance with American Sleep Society guidelines, and is well received by patients