RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A 4-week wait ‘fast-track’ sleep service is effective at establishing vocational drivers on continuous positive airway pressure
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 401
OP 402
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.17-5-401
VO 17
IS 5
A1 Sophie D West
A1 Beatrice Downie
A1 Gillian Olds
A1 Mark Tomlinson
A1 Claire Wotton
A1 Emma Firth
A1 Alison McMillan
YR 2017
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/17/5/401.abstract
AB We sought to establish whether an expedited or ‘fast-track’ NHS service to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and establish vocational drivers on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) within 4 weeks of referral was possible. This model is recommended by the OSA Partnership Group. In total, 55 vocational drivers were referred to two sleep services. Assessment showed 73% had moderate or severe OSA on sleep study. Of those commenced on CPAP, review was a mean of 15 days after initiation (range 3–62 days). Median time from referral (or first clinic visit) to review on CPAP was 32 days, showing a ‘fast-track’ pathway is deliverable.