Why are you closing the Richmond obstructive sleep apnoea service?
At the moment, NHS South West London commissions two NHS sleep apnoea treatment services. There is the Richmond Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) Service provided by The Sleeping Disorders Centre which is for Richmond patients only. There is also the service provided by St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which is for all patients in South West London including Richmond patients.
As the NHS organisation responsible for planning services across South West London we regularly assess how we do this to make sure they are consistent, high quality and good value for money for all people in South West London. To make best use of existing resources we would not now choose to commission a stand-alone service such as the Richmond OSA Service when we already commission another provider for sleep apnoea as part of wider ENT & respiratory services for all patients in South West London.
We are therefore proposing to align NHS sleep apnoea care in Richmond with the rest of South West London. This would mean that in future Richmond residents would have the same choice for sleep apnoea treatment as residents in the other five boroughs. St George’s would become the sole provider commissioned in South West London, in addition to alternatives available under the NHS Choice Framework.
How many patients will be affected by the change?
The proposal would affect only patients receiving care for sleep apnoea from the Sleeping Disorders Centre which is approximately 380 patients.
There are approximately 2,000 patients registered with a Richmond GP who have a diagnosis of sleep apnoea.
Why can’t you keep the choice of two providers that Richmond residents have, and then offer this to all residents in South West London?
As the NHS organisation responsible for planning services across South West London we have considered these services in line with the principles we are required to follow; the requirement to commission services equitably for the population of South West London and ensure the sustainable use of NHS resources. At this time, it would not be sustainable to re-procure a stand-alone sleep apnoea service across South West London.
Therefore, to make best use of NHS resources we are proposing to bring care and resources together with a single provider – St George’s – already commissioned to provide end-to-end respiratory services including sleep apnoea for everyone in South West London. This would provide economies of scale to deliver more consistent wait times, and the ability to prioritise patients based on clinical need across South West London.
What savings will you make from closing the Richmond OSA service?
Most of the funding from the Richmond OSA Service would be allocated to the existing ENT and respiratory services at St George’s which is already available to all residents in South West London including Richmond. Making this change would be about improving access to existing services and managing growing demand across South West London, rather than direct financial benefit or savings.
The current service manages my care remotely; will this be the same at St George’s?
Your first appointment with St George’s would be in person as a new patient to the service. At this appointment your symptoms, oxygen levels and CPAP data would be reviewed, and the team would talk you through and fit your new CPAP equipment. Whether future appointments are in person or over the telephone would depend on your condition and following discussion with the team.
I don’t want my care to transfer to St George’s can I choose another NHS provider?
If the proposal goes ahead current patients of the Sleeping Disorders Centre would transfer to the sleep apnoea service at St George’s. We would work closely with the Sleeping Disorders Centre and St George’s to make sure your care continues smoothly, with no gaps in treatment.
If you do not want to continue your care at St George’s, you can talk to your GP about alternative providers available under the NHS Choice Framework. This could mean having to join a wait list and undertaking a new sleep study and assessment before starting treatment as a new patient with another provider.
If you are currently on the wait list with the Sleeping Disorders Centre, we would contact you to discuss your options of another provider which could include St George’s.
Why are you proposing St George’s instead of another provider?
NHS South West London already commissions St George`s to provide end to end respiratory services which includes sleep apnoea for all residents in South West London. By bringing together resources and care with St George’s, patients will benefit from a single, specialist team with access to the same clinical standards, equipment, and follow-up care wherever they live in South West London.
Why can’t I keep the CPAP machine that I already have?
The CPAP machine you currently use belongs to the Sleeping Disorders Centre. If your care transfers to St George’s, they would provide you with a replacement machine of equivalent quality which they would fit with you at your first appointment. They would also provide support on how to use it so that your treatment can continue without interruption.
If the transfer of my care goes ahead, when will I find out about my next appointment?
If the proposal goes ahead, we would contact current patients and those on the wait list of the Sleeping Disorders Centre to let them know about any changes to their care.
Once your patient record has been transferred, St George’s would then contact you directly with information about your next appointment.