Our role is to work with patients to diagnose and manage their sleep condition and to help people return to restful sleep. In 2011 significant investment was made in renovating and refurbishing facilities. Our diagnostic systems are used to record sleep physiology overnight in single rooms, connected by video to the monitoring laboratory. Our lab is situated on a quiet ward run by highly trained technicians and supported by caring nurses.

The Sleep Disorders Clinic is run on multidisciplinary lines and once diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment programme will be put in place appropriate to specific patient needs.  The Mater Private Sleep Clinic is unique in its’ access to a wide variety of professionals which enable us to put cohesive treatment plans in place, no matter what the diagnosis.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a disorder of disrupted breathing during sleep. The airway or windpipe becomes excessively floppy during sleep, where it becomes narrow (causing snoring and shallow breathing known as hypopnoeas) and may even close over completely, causes pauses in breathing / choking spells (apnoeas). This disturbs patients’ sleep causing tiredness or excessive sleepiness during the day. In the short term, patients are at increased risk of car accidents. Over the long term this can lead to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is usually described by patients as a creepy- crawly type feeling in the legs, associated with the urge to move the legs. The symptoms are relieved by movement only to return at rest. This can impair patients’ ability to fall asleep or even wake them from sleep.

Insomnia

Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep or waking up excessively early in the morning. There are many different types of insomnia.

Body-Clock / Circadian Rhythm Disturbance

This includes “morning larks” or “night owls” where the hours they keep become problematic. This also includes Shift Work Disorder or difficulty with sleep in shift workers as well as Jet Lag.

Abnormal Behaviors During Sleep

This is a heterogenous group of disorders which includes Sleep Walking, Night Terrors, Sleep-related violence, acting out dreams, abnormal movements in sleep.

Disorders of Excessive Sleepiness

This includes Narcolepsy, a rare condition whereby patients fall asleep recurrently throughout the day often accompanied by cataplexy; whereby they may have weakness in the leg, neck or facial muscles in response to emotion. Other disorders treated include Kleine-Levin Syndrome and Idiopathic Hypersomnia.

Paediatric Sleep Disorders

Children are seen from the age of 6. Children under 6 will be assessed on a case by case basis.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
• Childhood Insomnia – difficulty going to sleep
• Sleep Walking
• Body Clock Issues
• Abnormal Behaviours during sleep
• Night Terrors
• Narcolepsy

The Sleep Disorders Clinic is run on multidisciplinary lines and once diagnosis is confirmed treatment may be carried out by a variety of professionals depending on the problem.

• Full diagnostic polysomnography (full sleep study)
• CPAP Titration Studies (initiating treatment for sleep apnoea)
• Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT) – testing for Narcolepsy
• Maintenance of Wakefulness Testing (MWT)
• Actigraphy ( to assess body-clock issues)
• Overnight Oximetry (measuring oxygen levels during sleep)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia
• CPAP compliance monitoring (to ensure appropriate usage of CPAP)

Sleep Disorders in the Media

• Advice for people with sleep disorders
• How to get a good night’s sleep

Our team have started over 1,500 patients on CPAP since 1995

In 2001 they carried out almost 300 Nocturnal Polysomnograms, over 100 CPAP Titration Studies, 56 limited Sleep Studies, 43 Multiple Sleep Latency tests.

Access to the Sleep Laboratory for assessment and /or treatment is by referral from a GP or another specialist.

Contact the Sleep Disorders Clinic between 10am and 4pm to make a referral or book an appointment. You can alternatively contact one of our consultants directly in their rooms.

•  The Sleep Disorders Clinic                  Phone/Fax:             01-860 0090
•  Dr. Elaine Purcell                               Phone/Fax:             01-811 7713
•  Dr. Catherine Crowe                           Phone/Fax:             01-860 0090

Email enquiries to: sleepdepartment@gmail.com