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Sleep medicine · UK

Sleep - assessment and support, without the guesswork.

Consultant-led private sleep medicine for insomnia, suspected sleep apnoea, restless legs and circadian problems - history, sleep diary, home or in-lab studies, CBT-I and targeted treatment.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private sleep assessment and support costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

A full private diagnostic pathway with a home sleep test: £600–£1,050, results in two weeks.

Option Indicative range
Consultant sleep medicine consultation £250–£450
Home sleep apnoea test (level 3) £350–£600
In-lab polysomnography (level 1) £1,400–£2,400
Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) £1,600–£2,600
Actigraphy (circadian assessment) £300–£550
CBT-I programme (4–6 sessions) £800–£1,500
Follow-up consultation £180–£300

Prices vary by unit (London vs regional), by study type (home vs in-lab) and by whether CBT-I is delivered individually or as a group. Consultant reporting is usually included.

The problem

The right diagnosis, the right treatment, and no lifelong hypnotics by default.

Sleep is where UK medicine quietly under-delivers ’ years of tablets prescribed for what a two-week diary would have solved, or apnoea missed because no-one asked about snoring.

  • Confirm what it is

    Insomnia, apnoea, RLS and circadian disorders look similar from the outside. A structured history plus objective testing separates them.

  • Pick the right treatment

    CBT-I for chronic insomnia. CPAP or MAD for apnoea. Melatonin and light for circadian problems. Medication only where it earns its place.

  • Plan the exit

    Where sleeping tablets are used, we prescribe them with a clear taper and stop date ’ not a repeat prescription for the next decade.

When it helps

When a private sleep review is the right step.

The presentations we see most often, plus the red flags that need a same-week specialist rather than a routine appointment.

  • Chronic insomnia

    Difficulty falling or staying asleep three or more nights a week for three months, with daytime impact ’ NICE-recommended pathway is CBT-I.

  • Suspected sleep apnoea

    Loud snoring, witnessed apnoeas, unrefreshing sleep or daytime sleepiness ’ home or in-lab study to confirm and grade severity.

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

    Epworth score above 10, falling asleep in meetings or driving ’ needs objective testing, not stimulants.

  • Restless legs and periodic limb movement

    Unpleasant urge to move the legs at night, ferritin checked, dopamine agonist or iron replacement where indicated.

  • Circadian rhythm disorders

    Delayed sleep phase, shift-work sleep disorder, jet lag ’ actigraphy, timed light and melatonin under supervision.

  • Parasomnias

    Sleepwalking, night terrors, REM sleep behaviour disorder ’ video polysomnography and neurology input where the picture is atypical.

  • Narcolepsy and hypersomnia

    Confirmed with polysomnography plus MSLT ’ shared care with neurology and modafinil, pitolisant or sodium oxybate where indicated.

  • Red flag: sleep-related breathing plus cardiac symptoms

    Loud snoring with atrial fibrillation, resistant hypertension or angina is urgent respiratory sleep review, not a routine appointment.

Assessment and treatment options

The approach depends on your situation.

From a structured history and diary to a full-night in-lab study and CBT-I ’ what each option involves.

  • Structured sleep history

    The single most important step ’ a full sleep, medical, medication, alcohol, caffeine and shift-work history taken by a consultant.

  • Two-week sleep diary

    Bedtime, sleep onset, awakenings, rise time and daytime function recorded daily ’ often diagnostic on its own.

  • Home sleep apnoea test

    A small oximetry-and-airflow device you wear overnight at home. Good for straightforward suspected OSA in otherwise fit adults.

  • In-lab polysomnography

    The gold-standard full study with EEG, EMG, ECG, airflow, effort and oximetry ’ used for complex, atypical or paediatric cases.

  • Multiple sleep latency test

    Daytime nap protocol after a polysomnography night ’ the reference test for narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)

    First-line for chronic insomnia in NICE and international guidance ’ 4’6 structured sessions, in person or over video.

  • Pharmacological treatment

    Short courses of z-drugs or a low-dose sedating antidepressant where CBT-I is not enough. Melatonin for circadian problems.

  • Onward device and surgical care

    CPAP, mandibular advancement or ENT surgery for apnoea; neurology for parasomnia; psychiatry where mood is the primary driver.

Safety and recovery

What to expect - honestly.

Sleep assessment itself is very safe. The details that matter are choosing the right treatment, avoiding open-ended hypnotic prescriptions, and being honest about driving and mood.

  • Home sleep tests are low-risk

    A small oximetry and airflow device you sleep with at home. No blood tests, no injections, no anaesthetic.

  • In-lab studies are non-invasive

    Wired-up scalp electrodes, chest bands and nasal cannula in a private room. Uncomfortable, not dangerous.

  • CBT-I is safe and evidence-based

    The first-line NICE-recommended treatment for chronic insomnia ’ no dependence, no withdrawal, benefits sustained at one year.

  • Sleeping tablets are a bridge, not a plan

    Z-drugs and benzodiazepines have a role for short courses only ’ we prescribe them with a clear stop date and taper plan.

  • Melatonin is prescription-only in the UK

    Modified-release melatonin is licensed for over-55s; unlicensed use in younger adults and children is consultant-led.

  • Driving and sleepiness

  • Mood, alcohol and sleep

    Depression, anxiety and alcohol drive most refractory insomnia. We look for these openly and refer where appropriate.

  • Paediatric sleep

    Children under 16 are referred into a paediatric sleep service ’ not seen on an adult pathway.

  • Red flags

    Cataplexy, acting out dreams with injury, or falling asleep while driving are urgent ’ same-week specialist, not a routine call.

Reading your notes

Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whether it is a home apnoea test or a full in-lab polysomnography, the report keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s sleep study

A quiet reminder

Sleep study numbers are precise ’ we translate them for you.

If you want us to walk you through the AHI, ODI and sleep architecture before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Study type and technical quality

    Home versus in-lab, total recording time, sleep efficiency and any technical limitations noted by the sleep scientist.

  2. 02 Findings

    Indices and events

    AHI, ODI, RDI, oxygen nadir, sleep architecture (N1/N2/N3/REM), periodic limb movements and arousal index.

  3. 03 Diagnosis

    Clinical formulation

    Insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea (mild, moderate, severe), RLS, circadian disorder, parasomnia or narcolepsy ’ named clearly.

  4. 04 Plan

    Treatment and follow-up

    Read this first: CBT-I, device therapy, medication, onward referral and the date of your next review.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Medically indicated sleep testing and CBT-I are usually covered. Lifestyle sleep coaching is self-pay.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about private sleep care.

Quick answers on studies, CBT-I, cost, cover and NHS routes.

  • How much does a private sleep assessment cost in the UK?

    Roughly £250–£450 for a consultant sleep medicine consultation, £350–£600 for a home sleep apnoea test, and £1,400–£2,400 for a full in-lab polysomnography night. A structured CBT-I programme is £800–£1,500 across 4–6 sessions.

  • Do I need a full in-lab sleep study or is a home test enough?

    For straightforward suspected obstructive sleep apnoea in a fit adult, a home test is usually enough. In-lab polysomnography is reserved for complex, atypical, paediatric, cardiac or neurological cases, and for suspected narcolepsy or parasomnia.

  • Is CBT-I really better than sleeping tablets for insomnia?

    Yes. NICE and international guidance recommend CBT-I as first-line for chronic insomnia. It has no dependence, no withdrawal, and the benefits are sustained at one year ’ hypnotics have none of these features.

  • How long does the whole pathway take, start to finish?

    Consultation within a week of referral, sleep study within two weeks, results and plan within a further week to ten days. A full CBT-I programme adds six to eight weeks on top.

  • Will my insurer cover a sleep assessment?

    Medically indicated sleep testing and CBT-I are usually covered by the major UK insurers. Lifestyle sleep coaching and non-clinical sleep tracking are self-pay.

  • Does the NHS offer sleep services, and why go private?

    Yes ’ the NHS runs excellent sleep services, but waits for polysomnography and CBT-I are typically many months. Private routes are used for speed, a named consultant, and choice of in-lab versus home testing.

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