The recently completed “Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Patients with

Sleep Disorders” were launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Ms. Mary Harney

TD, on Monday February 1, 2010 in the Royal College of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin.

Approximately 80 invited guests were in attendance with representation from the Department

of Health and Children, Hospitals, Sleep Laboratories, and Clinical Specialists in sleep

disorders. Other interested stakeholders such as the Road Safety Authority were also

represented and representatives from television, radio and print media were also present.

The President of the Irish Sleep Society, Prof. Walter McNicholas from St. Vincent’s

University Hospital introduced the event and gave an overview of sleep disorders with a

particular emphasis on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which represents the most frequent

sleep disorders treated in Irish sleep clinics. He emphasised that sleep disorders affect most

people at some stage in life. Disorders such as OSA affect up to 100,000 people in Ireland and

represent an important factor in premature deaths from heart disease and stroke. Furthermore,

the daytime sleepiness associated with OSA is a major contributing factor to road traffic

accidents. Yet, the condition is treatable by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Prof. McNicholas stressed that the objective of the guidelines is to facilitate the development

of sleep disorders’ investigation and treatment facilities in accordance with best practice

standards, and the initiative has been strongly supported by patient support groups such as the

Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust (ISAT). The implementation of the guidelines represents an

important component of a National Strategy for sleep disorders.

Mr. Dan Smyth of ISAT spoke next and strongly endorsed the guidelines on behalf of his

association. He commented on the inadequate clinical and funding resources provided to Irish

patients with sleep disorders, particularly those with OSA. While ISAT has about 2,500

members, the great majority of Irish OSA patients remain undiagnosed.

The Minister then addressed the group and complimented the Society on the quality and

professional appearance of the Guidelines document. In launching the guidelines, she

commented that the document was presented in a user-friendly and easily readable format.

She also expressed the hope that the guidelines would be made available to the widest

possible readership, including general practitioners, other healthcare professionals, and the

general public. Minister Harney also expressed support for the need to diagnose and treat

patients with sleep disorders.

In closing the formal part of the meeting, Prof. McNicholas indicated that the guidelines

In informal discussions after these presentations, Minister Harney indicated to ISS members

that OSA might be a suitable disorder to have assessed by the National Director of Clinical

Care at the HSE, Dr. Barry White, in the context of developing a National Strategy.