Queensland Health Sleep Disorders Program: Information for clinicians

View Queensland Health Sleep Disorder Program: information for patients

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and CPAP

There is no specific data about the risks of having obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and contracting COVID-19 or if the severity will be worse. Patients with OSA should follow the same government advice that applies to the general community. Users of Non-Invasive Ventilation should contact your sleep service for any questions or if they have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Read more.

The Queensland Health Sleep Disorders Program (QHSDP) is a statewide clinical scheme that manages the treatment of patients with sleep disorders, including those with obstructive and central sleep disordered breathing, insomnia, hypersomnolence, behavioural sleep disorders and parasomnias. The Program is administered by an Executive Committee comprising clinical directors, senior scientific and nursing representatives from our nine QHSDP Prescriber Centres and the Program Administrator. The Program is hosted by Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

Services

Our services include:

  • Consultation with dedicated sleep medicine specialists
  • Advanced sleep investigation and diagnostic tests
  • Monitoring of patient treatment and adherence to therapy
  • Long-term loan of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device to eligible patients
  • Patient education, support and follow-up.

Centre locations

QHSDP Prescriber Centres are located at:

  • Cairns Hospital, Cairns North
  • Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport
  • Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane
  • Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya
  • Mater Public Health Services, Brisbane
  • Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba
  • Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston
  • The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside
  • Townsville Hospital, Douglas.

Our clinicians work closely with public and private specialists, general practitioners and other healthcare professionals. Besides providing day-to-day care, QHSDP's clinical teams have a strong future focus. New treatments and technology are regularly reviewed, aimed at providing the highest quality care for all our patients.

Refer a patient to Queensland Sleep Disorders Program

To access the Program, patients need a medical doctor's referral to a QHSDP Prescriber Centre. Further eligibility requirements apply to the equipment loan scheme.

If sleep investigations are performed by a non-Queensland Health facility, full diagnostic and/or treatment information must be forwarded to the QHSDP Prescriber Centre with the doctor's referral.

Further investigations may be required to be repeated at the QHSDP Prescriber Centre at the discretion of the Sleep Specialist. All bilevel investigations must be performed in a QHSDP Prescriber Centre.

The QHSDP Prescriber Centre prioritises clinical review of patients using the Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Prioritisation Criteria.

Any patients who are already on CPAP before medical assessment at the QHSDP Prescriber Centre will need to provide objective evidence of CPAP usage of at least a two-month period at the medical assessment before the provision of QHSDP Program equipment occurs. To determine objective CPAP usage, the Program must know the treatment start and finish dates as well as the total hours of usage during that period. This data can be provided as a report by the CPAP rental organisation.

Equipment loan scheme eligibility

QHSDP equipment loan scheme

QHSDP's equipment loan scheme assists patients who can least afford to purchase their own sleep therapy device. To be considered for this scheme, patients must:

  • Hold a current Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) white card. Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card holders are not eligible.
  • Reside permanently in Queensland
  • Have been diagnosed with clinically significant sleep apnoea as defined by the Queensland Sleep Disorders Program:
  • Apnoea Hypopnoea index (AHI) of ≥ 5/hour on a Type 1 or 
    Type 2 diagnostic sleep study OR
  • Apnoea Hypopnoea index (AHI) of ≥ 20/hour on a Type 3 diagnostic sleep study
    • Associated with any of the following:
      • Significant daytime sleepiness defined as a Epworth Sleepiness Scale result of 10 or more OR
      • Significant daytime fatigue with substantial improvement on CPAP therapy OR
      • Significant sleep hypoxaemia defined as at least 5% of total sleep time at or below an oxygen saturation of 90%
  • Other clinically significant conditions which require CPAP and do not meet the above criteria will be considered by the Queensland Health Sleep Disorders Program Executive Committee before issue of loan equipment.

Additionally, patients are required to:

  • Rent a positive airway pressure device at their own expense for a minimum 2-month home treatment trial with average usage of at least 4 hours per night over this period.
  • Purchase their own device accessories - including mask, headgear, and (if required) humidification.
  • Be under the management of a Royal Australasian College of Physicians Accredited Sleep Physician in a QHSDP Prescriber unit.

Any concerns about the applicant’s eligibility should be referred to the QHSDP Executive Chair or the QHSDP Executive Committee. The Executive’s decision in such matters is final.

Objective CPAP compliance must be maintained at a minimum of 4hours/night to retain the loan positive airway pressure device. Those patients who have been reviewed by a QHSDP Prescriber Centre and have suboptimal adherence to CPAP (<4hours/night) will be given a 1-month grace period to improve CPAP compliance. Advice will be provided with regards to specific equipment or health issues affecting compliance. If objective CPAP compliance is <4hours/night during this 1-month grace period, then the pump must be returned to QHSDP.

A nasal mask system costs around $180 - $250. Some patients need a full mask system. This can cost $250 - $350. These costs are indicative only and vary between suppliers.

Although CPAP is the most effective therapy for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea, it doesn't suit everybody. The trial period helps to identify any problems.

There's evidence that patients who can successfully use CPAP and feel benefit over a 2-month period generally continue using the therapy in the long-term. Once the trial has been successfully completed and the patient has been clinically assessed by a Royal Australasian College of Physicians Accredited Sleep Physician in a QHSDP Prescriber Centre, a Queensland Health device can be issued.

Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Card

The Gold Repatriation Health Card (DVA Gold Card) is issued to Australian veterans, their widows and dependants.  The gold card entitles the holder to treatment for all medical conditions.

If your patient has presented with a DVA Gold card and is confirmed as needing Positive Airway Pressure treatment, you can use the D9140 form (Application for PAP Equipment) to apply for CPAP or BPAP devices and accessories.  As the treating clinician you can request the device and accessories most suitable for the patient regardless of the manufacturer and tender holder for DVA PAP equipment. The tender holder for DVA PAP equipment will source the equipment prescribed.  More information is available on the DVA website.

Please note: Queensland Health does not supply rental devices. The patient’s local QHSD Prescriber Centre can provide advice on how to obtain a rental machine.

Waiting times

Due to the high demand for our services, there might be some delay in accessing a QHSD Prescriber Centre. Waiting times vary from hospital to hospital and are based on medical and occupational priority.

Patients who have already commenced CPAP treatment are advised to continue renting CPAP devices in the meantime. Your local centre will be able to advise you of the approximate waiting time.

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Last updated: 28 November 2024