Concierge sleep medicine · London
Polysomnography (PSG), the gold-standard in-lab overnight sleep study.
A partner tired of the snoring, a DVLA letter about sleepiness, or a home test that came back inconclusive — this is the study that gives you a definitive AHI, not an estimate. One night in a quiet private sleep‑lab room in London, wired for EEG, breathing and oxygen, with a technologist watching in real time so a lost cable at 3am doesn’t sink the whole night.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant sleep physician with attended polysomnography — the person who reads it decides the answer.
- 02
Definitive answer
A full attended PSG gives a definitive AHI, oxygen desaturation index and sleep architecture — not a screening estimate.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
What defines a full polysomnography.
Six things to know about attended in-lab PSG before you commit to a night in the sleep lab.
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The definitive UK sleep study — not a screening estimate
One attended night in a London sleep‑lab gives you an actual AHI, ODI and sleep‑stage architecture, with a consultant sleep‑medicine review inside a week.
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Answers home tests can’t give
EEG plus effort belts distinguish central from obstructive apnoea, score arousals, and give a definitive AHI — the numbers a home strap-on device only approximates.
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Attended by sleep technologist
A trained technologist monitors the study in real time and repositions sensors if they come loose.
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Definitive AHI + ODI
A definitive apnoea–hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index — not a screening estimate.
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Detects central and mixed apnoea
Effort belts distinguish obstructive from central and mixed events — home tests often cannot.
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Foundation for CPAP titration
The scored PSG underpins CPAP, BiPAP or ASV titration on a second night.
The diagnostic pathway
From consultation to structured plan — what happens, in order.
One consultant sleep physician from first consultation to structured plan.
Phase 1 · Before the lab
Consultation and booking
Phase 2 · Overnight in the lab
Sensors, recording, titration
Phase 3 · After
Report and plan
- 01
Before
Sleep-medicine consultation
A consultant sleep physician takes the history, reviews Epworth score, comorbidities and daytime symptoms, and confirms PSG is the right test.
- 02
Before
Attend the sleep lab at 8–9pm
You arrive in the evening — bring nightwear, medications and toiletries. A private room is set up for the night.
- 03
In the lab
Sensors applied by technologist
A sleep technologist applies EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG leads, airflow and effort sensors, and a pulse oximeter — painless and non-invasive.
- 04
In the lab
Recording overnight
You sleep as normally as possible while the montage records through the night. The technologist watches remotely and adjusts sensors as needed.
- 05
In the lab
CPAP titration (2nd night)
If OSA is confirmed, a second night may be booked for CPAP titration — pressures are dialled in while you sleep.
- 06
After
Sleep physician report
The consultant sleep physician scores the study and issues a full written report — AHI, ODI, sleep stages and interpretation.
- 07
After
Structured plan
A structured plan follows — CPAP, ASV, BiPAP, MAD, positional therapy, weight loss or onward referral, with follow-up booked.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks. Titration night: within 2 weeks of diagnostic PSG.
What it shows
What a full attended PSG answers.
Polysomnography answers definitive questions — severity, sleep architecture, event type and treatment direction. These are the findings that shape the plan.
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AHI (apnoea–hypopnoea index)
The definitive count of apnoeas and hypopnoeas per hour — the primary marker of OSA severity.
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Oxygen desaturation index
Quantifies nocturnal hypoxaemia — a key driver of cardiovascular risk in OSA.
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Central sleep apnoea
Distinguishes central from obstructive events — effort belts show no respiratory effort during central apnoeas.
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Complex / mixed apnoea
Identifies mixed events and treatment-emergent central apnoea that may need ASV rather than CPAP.
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Periodic limb movements
EMG leg leads pick up periodic limb movements of sleep and restless legs contributions to fragmentation.
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REM sleep behaviour disorder
REM without atonia on EMG — a marker of RBD and a red flag for later neurodegenerative disease.
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Sleep architecture (REM, NREM stages)
Full hypnogram — N1, N2, N3 and REM proportions, latency and fragmentation.
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Red flag: severe OSA + heart failure — urgent CPAP + cardiology
Severe OSA (AHI > 30) with heart failure warrants urgent CPAP and cardiology co-management.
Treatment options
What follows a positive PSG.
A definitive PSG unlocks specific treatment paths — device therapy, lifestyle, or onward surgical review.
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CPAP for OSA
First-line for moderate–severe obstructive sleep apnoea — titrated to abolish events across all stages and positions.
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Adaptive servo-ventilation (CSA)
ASV for central and complex sleep apnoea, adjusting support breath-by-breath.
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BiPAP for hypoventilation
Bi-level support for obesity hypoventilation and neuromuscular hypoventilation syndromes.
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Mandibular advancement device
Custom MAD for mild–moderate OSA, or where CPAP is not tolerated.
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Positional therapy
For positional OSA — devices and training to keep you off your back.
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Weight loss + lifestyle
Weight, alcohol and sleep-hygiene changes remain foundational alongside device therapy.
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ENT / bariatric referral
ENT surgery or bariatric pathways for selected anatomical or metabolic drivers.
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Structured sleep-medicine follow-up
Adherence, mask fit and residual-AHI review at 4–6 weeks, then annually.
Red flags
When a PSG needs to be prioritised.
The clinical situations where an in-lab attended study — not a home test — is the right first step, and where the report triggers urgent onward pathways.
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Severe OSA (AHI > 30)
Definitive severe obstructive sleep apnoea — urgent CPAP initiation.
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Central sleep apnoea
Central or treatment-emergent central events — ASV consideration and cardiology review.
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Obesity hypoventilation
Nocturnal hypoventilation with daytime hypercapnia — BiPAP and respiratory review.
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Occupational driving
HGV, PSV or safety-critical drivers — DVLA implications and priority treatment.
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Heart failure with OSA
Co-existent heart failure — joint sleep and cardiology management.
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Refractory hypertension
Poorly controlled BP on three-plus agents — treat OSA to help control it.
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Post-COVID sleep disturbance
New or worsened sleep-disordered breathing after COVID — full attended PSG.
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REM behaviour disorder
REM without atonia and dream enactment — neurology referral for long-term surveillance.
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Complex parasomnia
Complex nocturnal behaviours or possible nocturnal seizures — extended EEG montage.
Sources
The guidelines behind this page.
This patient guide is aligned with the standards published by the bodies below. Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Next review: 2027-07-30.
A quiet reminder
This page is patient information, not a substitute for a clinical consultation.
If you would like us to talk you through it before booking, just ask.
- 01 Reference
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnostic testing of adult obstructive sleep apnea.
- 02 Reference
British Sleep Society. Standards for adult sleep services.
- 03 Reference
European Respiratory Society. Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing.
- 04 Reference
NICE. Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome and obesity hypoventilation syndrome in over 16s (NG202).
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about polysomnography.
Quick answers on how PSG differs from home studies, CPAP titration nights, and when in-lab is the right choice.
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How soon can I get a private in‑lab sleep study in London?
Most private sleep labs in central London can book you in within one to two weeks, evenings and weekends included. Where a DVLA letter or high‑risk occupation is in play we prioritise a same‑week slot, with the scored report and consultant sleep‑medicine review inside a further seven days.
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How is PSG different from a home sleep test?
A home sleep study records airflow, effort and oximetry only, and is a screening test for straightforward OSA. A full attended PSG adds EEG, EOG, EMG and ECG — giving definitive sleep staging, central-versus-obstructive distinction and full arousal scoring.
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Do I need a second night for CPAP titration?
Often, yes. If OSA is confirmed, a second-night titration is booked to dial in CPAP pressures under supervision. Some clinics offer split-night studies where diagnostic and titration are combined.
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Will I actually sleep with all those sensors?
Most people sleep enough for a valid study. The sensors are non-invasive and the technologist works to keep the room quiet and comfortable — the first-night effect is well recognised and rarely invalidates the study.
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When would PSG be preferred over an at-home study?
When central sleep apnoea, complex parasomnia, REM behaviour disorder, occupational driving fitness, pre-surgical assessment or heart failure are in play — anywhere a definitive answer and full staging are needed.
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When should I see a GP or A&E instead?
Sudden severe daytime sleepiness with collapse, suspected narcolepsy with cataplexy, or acute nocturnal breathing distress need same-day medical assessment, not an elective sleep study.
Related tests
Looking for a different sleep test?
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Neurological sleep study
Extended EEG montage polysomnography for suspected nocturnal seizures and complex parasomnia.
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At-home sleep study
Screening-level home study for straightforward suspected OSA.
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Portable multichannel sleep test — airflow, effort and oximetry at home.
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In practice, in London
What polysomnography psg looks like on the ground in London
With polysomnography psg, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. On the NHS, polysomnography psg typically sits behind a triage step and a wait that can stretch from a few weeks into months. In London’s private sector, the same appointment often lands within days. That speed matters when symptoms are disrupting work, sleep, or a plan you’d already committed to — and it’s the single most common reason people call us in the first place.
A typical private booking for polysomnography psg in London starts with a consultant conversation — sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For polysomnography psg specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see polysomnography psg — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.
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