Children's sleep and ventilation

The Sir Robert Finch children’s sleep and ventilation unit at Royal Brompton Hospital offers comprehensive evaluation and care for children with sleep and sleep-related disorders. These include children who have:

obstructive sleep apnoea
breathing problems when they are asleep
respiratory conditions, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis
neuromuscular weakness
inherited conditions, such as Down's syndrome

State-of-the-art equipment

Having the latest equipment means we can monitor the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream, as well as the movement of the chest and abdomen, the heart rate, airflow and the electrical activity in the brain.

The unit also provides care for children who rely on ventilators to breathe. Some of these children have tracheostomies and are on long-term ventilation. Other children are on CPAP or BIPAP therapy – involving the use of a machine and mask that delivers air or oxygen to ensure unobstructed breathing during sleep.

We also have the ability to do far more sophisticated tests such as multiple sleep latency tests. This means we can provide more accurate information to help in the diagnosis and management of these children. Treatment can be tailored to the individual needs of each child.

Child-friendly rooms

The rooms were specially designed with input from children and their families. Our child-friendly atmosphere helps children feel at ease and have a good night's sleep.

The unit also provides beds for parents so that they can stay with their child during the overnight test.

The inspiring artworks in the unit by artist Jill Calder were funded with additional support from the Octavia Appeal working with the Friends of Royal Brompton, and commissioned by the Trust’s arts team.

Read more about our sleep study for children