Referrals

Your General Practitioner wil be able to advise you on getting referred for advice or for treatment of your problem with sleep. Although our core referral patch is from Kent, Surrey and Sussex, many patients request referral to the Centre from their GPs using the NHS Choose and Book system from all over southern England and further afield. NHS referrals can be made either by GPs or consultants. Private referrals can be made by GPs, consultants, or by patients themselves. NHS Referrals To get referred with a sleep problem on the NHS, you should initially consult your GP, who will advise you further. Your GP may suggest a referral to a specialist first ( often in ENT surgery for snoring), or may suggest a referral straight to the Centre. Where your problem is one of difficulty sleeping, or ‘ something funny’ that is happening in the night ( for example, sleep walking or sleep talking, odd behaviour, ,movements whilst asleep), the GP may write to us for an opinion first, and we will contact you to make an outpatient appointment to assess you problem and give advice. THE NHS DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TREATMENT FOR COMPLAINTS OF SNORING, UNLESS THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH [SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING – LINK] Private Referrals The Centre is approved for the diagnosis and treatment of insured and self funding private patients. Most private health insurers recognise the centre and will cover fees for medical conditions relating to sleep. GPs and specialists may refer patients, but potential patients are welcome to ring the Centre and speak to Claire Thomas to self refer (01342 305422). Please note – if you self refer, we will expect to inform your GP of any diagnosis or treatment that you undergo. We will not treat patients without informing GP, because this might interfere with future advice or treatment from the GP, and is therefore not ethical in our opinion. WHILST ACCOUNTS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ARE SENT DIRECTLY TO INSURERS FOR SETTLEMENT, ANY SHORTFALL ON THE POLICY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PATIENT. YOU ARE ADVISED TO CHECK WITH YOUR INSURER THEIR LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR ANY PROCEDURE THAT YOU AGREE TO. PRIVATE HEALTH INSURERS WILL NOT COVER TREATMENTS FOR PURE SNORING AND, THEREFORE, IT IS NECESSARY FOR PATIENTS TO FUND ANY TREATMENT THEMSELVES. PRIVATE HEALTH INSURERS DO NOT NORMALLY COVER THE COST OF PURCHASE OF A [CPAP MACHINE] FOR THE TREATMENT OF Obstructive Sleep Apnoea