What is a sleep study?
A sleep study is an overnight test that we usually ask you to carry out in your own home.
A sleep study helps us check for sleep problems or problems breathing at night.
You wear some equipment that records your oxygen levels, breathing movements, heart rate and snoring while you are asleep. Watch a video here.
You need to collect the equipment from us and return it to us the next day so we can examine the results of the sleep study.
A consultant will discuss the results with you at your clinic appointment and recommend any possible treatment.
A date and time to collect sleep study equipment
You need to collect the equipment for a home sleep study from the Respiratory Physiology department at Harefield Hospital.
We will contact you with a date and time at which you need to collect the equipment. When we contact you, we will also include directions to the department.
We will hand the equipment over to you at the main doors of the department.
A member of the physiology team will:
- explain how to carry out the sleep study
- show you how to access our online instruction videos
- answer any questions you may have
Please note: The equipment can only be collected from the Respiratory Physiology department. We are not able to leave any equipment for collection at the hospital’s main reception.
What happens if am late for the sleep study equipment collection?
We give you a date and time to collect the sleep study equipment. If you are late, you can still collect the sleep study equipment from the Respiratory Physiology department up to 4.30pm on same day.
You may have to wait to be seen if our staff are busy.
Can someone else collect the equipment for me?
Yes. Someone else can pick up the equipment at the collection date and time we give you.
Can I change the collection time you have given me?
Yes. If you are not able to collect the equipment at date and time we give you, please contact the outpatient appointment team to rebook your appointment:
Phone: 0330 128 5696 (Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm)
Email: apshh@rbht.nhs.uk
If you email us, please include your name, hospital number and date of birth with your message. We will reply to your email within 24 hours.
Returning the equipment to us the next day
Please return equipment to us by 10am the following day. This allows us time to download your sleep study results and reset the equipment ready for collection by another patient the same day.
Deliver the equipment back to:
- the Respiratory Physiology department by 10am on Monday to Friday
- the main reception at Harefield Hospital by 10am at weekends
What happens if I miss my appointment to collect the equipment?
If you do not collect the equipment, we will have to book a new date and time for collection.
This may mean we need to delay the clinic appointment with a consultant to discuss the results of your sleep study.
Hospital transport
Please contact us if you require hospital transport for your appointments.
What happens after I return the equipment?
Our clinical physiologists will look at the results of your sleep study. The clinical physiologists will then give the results to your consultant who will discuss them with you at your clinic appointment.
We will have sent you details of your clinic appointment with the consultant. We will also send text message reminders to your mobile phone.
Please note: If the recording made by the sleep study equipment is not clear, we may ask you to repeat the test.
Results of the sleep study and treatment
A consultant will discuss the results of your sleep study and any possible treatment at your clinic appointment.
We will not give you a copy of the results of your sleep study. This is because the results of sleep studies can only be interpreted (read) by specialist clinicians. Your GP will be sent a copy of the clinic letter with a summary of the test results and any treatment plan.
If the consultant decides you need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, we will give you a date and time to collect the CPAP machine. Your CPAP collection appointment will take around 30 minutes.
During your collection appointment, we will fit you with a CPAP mask and explain how the CPAP machine works. We also have a step-by-step video about setting up the CPAP machine available online.
There is currently high demand for CPAP treatment. This means our patients are waiting longer for CPAP machines to become available. We will give you an appointment to collect a CPAP machine as soon as we can.
Please see the range of instructional videos we have available by clicking the following link: Harefield Hospital Sleep Clinic