ISAT calls on it's membership in the four provinces to highlight the plight of people suffering from Sleep Apnoea in Ireland when prospective electioneering Councillors call to seek a vote for their election or re-election to local authorities.

We must draw attention to and demand the following:-

1. The provision of full and proper professional medical Sleep Diagnostic Centres and facilities throughout Ireland for the professional diagnosis, treatment and care of people suffering from sleep apnoea and related sleep disorders.
   

2. Adequate funding to ensure that fully qualified and accredited professional medical personnel are provided on a full-time basis to staff sleep diagnostic centres.
   

3. Recognition that a sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea is a debilitating disorder comparable with all other recognised medical disorders.

Facts to back up ISAT demands
 

A Recent study has been conducted in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, the United States of America and Canada on sleep study rates per 100,000 population and waiting time for diagnosis and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure.

Brief periods of breathing cessation (apnoeas) or marked reduction in Vt (hypopneas) are common in adults during sleep.  Prospective studies indicate that sleep apnea contributes to systemic hypertension (1), is a modifiable risk factor for motor vehicle accidents (2), and that its adverse impact on quality of life is treatable (3).  As a result, there is substantial and growing demand by patients to access diagnostic studies and effective treatment.  Wait times result when demand exceeds capacity. Demand is influenced by (1) prevalence and incidence of sleep apnea, (2) cost and patient reimbursement policies, (3) patient and primary physician awareness, and (4) wait times.  Capacity is dictated by (1) availability of sleep laboratory beds determined by funding policies, (2) adherence to guidelines for diagnosing sleep apnea and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration (3) availability of sleep specialists, and, (4) policies about who can order/interpret diagnostic polysomnography and CPAP titration studies.

This table represents information from five countries regarding their population, annual number of sleep studies performed and the range of wait times patients experience (Table 1)

Based on research conducted by the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust (ISAT) we are able to show you where Ireland fits into this equation (Table 2).

The comparison shows, that outside the UK, we don't have enough clinics and we don't do enough tests.

Let it be known that we will not accept any short-term quick-fix measures and that we will not accept any resolution that might try to be brought about by the employment of non-accredited and non-professional medical personnel or so-called experts from outside the Country.

Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust/Iontaobhas Apnoea Codlata na hÉireann

Mission Statement
The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust promotes awareness, understanding and treatment of Sleep Apnoea through education, research and fund raising.

Organisation Profile
The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust is a non-political, non-profit making Patient Support Group for sufferers (and their families) of Sleep Apnoea.

The ethos and management style of the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust is one of transparency in its decision making process coupled with a commitment to serve and deliver benefits to the members. Effective communication is a cornerstone of this style.

To ensure delivery of these and our principal aims, our Committee is elected annually and is governed by membership approved Rules, and Accounting and Administrative Procedures and Controls. This is in addition to the normal regulations governing corporate bodies.

Contact ISAT

Telephone

Tel National (086) 605 3891 - Tel. International + 353 (86) 605 3891

Postal address

PO BOX 8440
Dublin 24
Ireland.

Electronic mail

General Information: 

Newsletter Editor: 
Chief Executive Officer: 
Webmaster: 

Website

World Wide Web: http://www.isat.ie

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Last modified: Tuesday 19 January 2010 04:35 PM

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