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Respiratory sleep medicine · UK

Sleep apnoea treatment - CPAP, devices, surgery and Inspire.

Consultant-led private treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea - from CPAP set-up and mandibular devices through ENT airway surgery to Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation for selected CPAP-intolerant patients.

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 apnoea treatment costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£1,800–£3,250, on treatment within three to four weeks.

Option Indicative range
Consultant respiratory sleep consultation £250–£450
Home sleep apnoea test £350–£600
CPAP set-up and 3-month follow-up £1,200–£2,200
Custom mandibular advancement device £1,800–£2,800
Septoplasty for nasal obstruction £4,500–£7,500
UPPP or expansion pharyngoplasty £6,500–£11,000
Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulator £28,000–£38,000

Prices vary by unit, by device brand and mask choice, and by the complexity of any airway surgery. Consultant reporting and titration are usually included.

The problem

The right treatment, the right device, and honest support after night one.

Sleep apnoea is where UK medicine quietly under-delivers ’ CPAP prescribed without a mask review, mandibular devices sold as an easy fix, and airway surgery listed without sleep endoscopy.

  • Get the diagnosis right

    Every option starts with a proper study ’ severity, positional dependency and REM patterns all change the answer.

  • Match treatment to phenotype

    Not every apnoea patient needs CPAP. Anatomy, jaw shape and tolerance decide whether MAD, positional therapy, surgery or Inspire is the best fit.

  • Support the first month

    Most CPAP failures happen in the first two weeks. A same-week check-in, a mask change and humidification usually rescues therapy.

When it helps

When sleep apnoea treatment is the right step.

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

  • Loud snoring with witnessed apnoeas

    The classic partner-reported picture ’ snoring, silence, gasp. Almost always needs a sleep study.

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

    Epworth score above 10, falling asleep in meetings or driving. Untreated OSA is a DVLA issue as well as a health issue.

  • Resistant hypertension

    Blood pressure that stays high on three drugs is a strong marker for undiagnosed OSA and warrants a study.

  • Atrial fibrillation and heart failure

    OSA is a common driver of AF recurrence after ablation and worsens heart failure ’ shared care with cardiology matters.

  • CPAP intolerance

    Mask claustrophobia, air leak, aerophagia or ‘I just cannot sleep with it’ ’ a formal review usually rescues therapy.

  • Positional OSA

    OSA that disappears off the back ’ positional therapy or a vibrating positional device is often enough.

  • Anatomical obstruction

    Deviated septum, large tonsils, retrognathia ’ a nasal or oropharyngeal surgical route can be more effective than a mask.

  • Red flag: OSA plus falling asleep at the wheel

    Reported dozing while driving needs same-week specialist review, DVLA discussion and expedited treatment ’ not a routine appointment.

Treatment options

The approach depends on your situation.

From a CPAP mask to an implanted nerve stimulator ’ what each option involves, and who it suits.

  • CPAP therapy

    The gold-standard treatment for moderate and severe OSA. Auto-titrating machines, a wide choice of masks and a same-week check-in for problems.

  • Mandibular advancement device

    A custom-made dental splint that holds the jaw forward. Good for mild to moderate OSA and for CPAP-intolerant patients.

  • Positional therapy

    A vibrating device or wearable that discourages sleeping on the back. Effective for pure positional OSA.

  • Weight management

    Structured weight loss with pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery where indicated. AHI often improves dramatically with 10 percent weight loss.

  • Septoplasty and turbinate reduction

    For nasal obstruction limiting CPAP tolerance or contributing to airway collapse. Opens the nose so mask therapy is bearable.

  • UPPP and expansion pharyngoplasty

    Reshaping the soft palate, uvula and lateral pharyngeal wall. Reserved for defined phenotypes after ENT sleep endoscopy.

  • Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA)

    Jaw surgery advancing both maxilla and mandible to enlarge the entire airway. High-effect option in carefully selected patients.

  • Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation

    An implanted device that stimulates the tongue nerve during sleep. For CPAP-intolerant adults with moderate-to-severe OSA and specific airway anatomy.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

CPAP is very safe. Mandibular devices, airway surgery and Inspire each have their own specific risks and recovery ’ we cover them explicitly before you decide.

  • CPAP is safe long-term

    Decades of evidence. Side effects are mask marks, dry mouth and occasional aerophagia ’ almost all fixable with a mask change or humidification.

  • MADs and dental effects

    Mandibular devices can move teeth and change bite over years. Dental review before and during treatment is essential.

  • Nasal surgery risks

    Bleeding, altered smell and, rarely, septal perforation. Consented explicitly by an ENT surgeon.

  • Pharyngeal surgery risks

    Swallowing changes, voice change, nasal regurgitation. Modern expansion techniques have lower morbidity than classical UPPP.

  • Jaw surgery risks

    MMA has a longer recovery and specific nerve risks ’ done only in high-volume maxillofacial centres.

  • Inspire implant risks

    Wound infection, tongue-movement changes, lead migration. Rates are low but the device is not a substitute for CPAP where CPAP works.

  • Driving and DVLA

    Untreated OSA with excessive sleepiness must be reported to the DVLA. We help you handle this properly.

  • Cardiovascular co-management

    AF ablation, heart failure and resistant hypertension all benefit from shared cardiology and sleep care.

  • Red flags after treatment

    New chest pain, worsening breathlessness, sudden hearing change or heavy bleeding after airway surgery needs the same-day team.

Reading your notes

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

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

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s CPAP data

A quiet reminder

Device data is precise ’ we translate it for you.

If you want us to walk you through your CPAP or Inspire data and the residual AHI before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Study type and technical quality

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

  2. 02 Findings

    AHI, ODI and phenotype

    Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index, Oxygen Desaturation Index, positional dependency, REM predominance and central versus obstructive events.

  3. 03 Diagnosis

    Severity and drivers

    Mild, moderate or severe OSA, with anatomical and physiological drivers identified where possible.

  4. 04 Plan

    Treatment and follow-up

    Read this first: CPAP, mandibular device, positional therapy, ENT surgery or Inspire ’ and the date of your next review.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Medically indicated CPAP, mandibular devices and airway surgery are usually covered. Snoring surgery without documented OSA is not routinely covered.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about sleep apnoea treatment.

Quick answers on CPAP, MAD, surgery, Inspire, cost and cover.

  • How much does private sleep apnoea treatment cost in the UK?

    Roughly £250–£450 for a consultation, £350–£600 for a home sleep apnoea test, £1,200–£2,200 for CPAP set-up and 3-month follow-up, £1,800–£2,800 for a custom mandibular device, and £6,500–£11,000 for airway surgery. Inspire implants are £28,000–£38,000.

  • Is CPAP always the first treatment for sleep apnoea?

    For moderate and severe OSA, yes ’ CPAP is the most effective single treatment. For mild OSA or positional OSA, a mandibular device or positional therapy can be equally reasonable. ENT surgery and Inspire are reserved for CPAP-intolerant patients with the right anatomy.

  • What is Inspire and who is it for?

    Inspire is an implanted hypoglossal nerve stimulator that gently stimulates the tongue muscle during sleep, opening the airway. It is licensed for adults with moderate-to-severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP and whose airway collapse pattern is suitable on drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

  • Will weight loss cure my sleep apnoea?

    It can, especially in patients with a BMI above 30. A 10 percent weight loss typically drops the AHI by around a quarter, and bariatric surgery cures or downgrades OSA in most patients. It is a genuine treatment option, not a lifestyle aside.

  • Will my insurer cover sleep apnoea treatment?

    Medically indicated CPAP, mandibular devices and airway surgery are usually covered by the major UK insurers. Snoring surgery without documented OSA is not routinely covered.

  • Does the NHS treat sleep apnoea, and why go private?

    Yes ’ the NHS provides CPAP free of charge for confirmed OSA. Waits for polysomnography, CPAP set-up and ENT sleep surgery are typically many months. Private routes are used for speed, a named consultant, and access to Inspire and advanced airway surgery.

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